WTC Final – India’s batting could be a major issue – Kiran More

Former national selector Kiran More reckons India’s batting could be a major issue in the upcoming World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

More feels India’s batting order hasn’t come up with a collective effort in the recent past and that could lead to their downfall.

The Indian batsmen haven’t been able to deliver the goods consistently in the foreign conditions. Cheteshwar Pujara hasn’t been in good form whereas Virat Kohli last scored a hundred back in 2019 in the pink-ball Test match against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Ajinkya Rahane had scored a majestic hundred at the MCG but apart from that he hasn’t been able to deliver the goods on a consistent basis. Shubman Gill had a poor series against England as he scored 119 runs in four Test matches. Furthermore, Rohit Sharma will be tested in the tough English conditions as an opener.

“The only issue for me as far as the Indian team is concerned is the batting. We have not clicked as a unit in our batting. If you see when we lost in New Zealand, the batting was the major issue. Even in Australia, our batting didn’t click together as a unit, we had to depend on a few individuals.

When we needed, Ajinkya Rahane got a century in Australia, then Rishabh Pant played some good knocks, then in the lower order guys like Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin also contributed with the bat.”

On the other hand, it will be interesting to note India’s second opener with Rohit Sharma. More believes it will be a toss up between Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal for the opening slot. Gill could be preferred over Agarwal as he had scored 259 runs in three Test matches against Australia.

“I would say it will be a toss-up between Mayank and Gill for the second opener’s slot. I have a lot of respect for Rahul. He is a terrific player, but you can’t straightaway put him in the Test team in such a big game, he will find it difficult.”

The World Test Championship final will take place at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.