WTC Final: The day is finally here. India and Australia are finally taking on each other it the ongoing final clash of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) However, as both the teams walked out ahead of the WTC Final’s opening day, they were spotted wearing black arm bands.
India And Australia Players Are Wearing Black Bands
Yes, the players of the Indian and Australian cricket teams were seen wearing black arm-bands to condone the loss of lives in the Odisha train accident. At least 1000 people were expected to have sustained injuries as the tragic accident took place in the Balasore district.
As many as three trains derailed and toppled over one another resulting in one of the most horrific train accidents the country has witnessed. The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a cargo train.
Rohit Sharma Won The Toss And Chose To Bowl First
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first. He also revealed that the Indian side will go with one spinner and four spinners. Team India has decided to go with Jadeja over Ashwin. He said:
“We are going to bowl. The conditions and also the weather being overcast. The pitch won’t change too much. Four seamers and one spinner. The spinner is Jadeja. It’s always tough (to leave Ashwin), he’s been a match-winner. He (Rahane) brings a lot of experience, he’s played 80-odd Tests.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins also said that he would have opted to bowl first as well. He said: “We would have bowled as well. Hopefully day four and five, there’s a bit of spin. You think it suits his bowling, he’ll be a key weapon. We’ve been here for about 10 days. Pretty fresh, weather has been nice, we haven’t missed a session, feeling good.”
WTC Final 2023 Playing XIs:
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
