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Xtra Time Web Desk: Preparations are in full swing for the Indian team ahead of the most awaited ICC World Test Championship Final against New Zealand starting from June 18 at the Ageas Bowl. The Indians were back to the net sessions following their three day intra squad match simulation practice. All the batsmen and bowlers got a proper practice during the match simulation. Players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma all got some runs behind against the frontline bowlers. On the bowling front bowlers like Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj impressed the team management.

Indian captain Virat Kohli on Monday may have hinted about the playing XI. Kohli tweeted a picture of Siraj and Ishant with him and wrote, “These quicks are dominating every day.”

It goes to be seen whether both Ishant and Siraj can make it to the playing XI for the WTC Final. It is almost guaranteed that the Indians will be going in with five frontline bowlers. Whether it will be three seamers and two spinners or four seamers and one spinner, that’s being debated. As for pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will become an automatic choice in English conditions with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur fighting for the third pacer slot.

Considering the Southampton pitch have some assistance for spinners on the last two days at least, team management can be influenced to play two spinners. In that case, Ravindra Jadeja will come into equation with Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Indian team management could change the 3+2 combination at the final moment depending on the weather conditions. There is a forecast of light showers and that could prompt Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri to go with four pacers and a spinner. The Southampton pitch is likely to assist seamers in the first three days and has some turns on the last two days as per the curator. Furthermore, of late Ageas Bowl pitch has helped seamers with all wickets going to seamers in the last County Championship match.

In that case, with Ravichandran Ashwin being the sole spinner, India could go with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma as the pace bowling options.

Likely playing XI for India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill; Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma & Mohammed Siraj.