WTC Final: India announce playing XI against New Zealand, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami included

On Thursday evening, team India announced their Playing XI for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, which will be played in Southampton from Friday. 

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ishant Sharma.

India's star batsman Rohit Sharma is all set to open along with Shubhman Gill, while the middle-order charge will be shared among Cheteshwar Pujara, captain Virat Kohli, and his vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. 

 June 17, 2021

Rishabh Pant was the obvious choice for wicket-keeper, while India opted to field two spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin also in the playing XI.

Team India skipper Virat Kohli, during a press conference, said that one test match is not a "true reflection" of his team even if it happens to be the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. 

"One game over five days. It's not going to reflect anything and those who understand the game know and also what has gone over the period of last four to five years," Kohli said on the eve of the big final against the Black Caps. 

Kohli further added, "If we win, cricket will not stop and if we lose also, cricket won't stop. We are playing in quest of excellence and understand who we are as a team."