Xtra Time Web Desk: With just two days to go before the start of the much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship final, the Indian team is leaving no stone unturned. As part of the preparations the Indian team management have flown in Rajasthan’s tall left arm pacer Aniket Choudhary. He has been specifically added as net bowler so that the Indian batters can prepare well against Australia’s left arm pacer Mitchell Starc.
Aniket was seen bowling at Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan during the Indian nets at the Oval on Sunday. The tall fast bowler was seen attracting bounce from the practice wicket. One of those rising deliveries injured Ishan Kishan.
Indian team management is mulling to included left arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat in the playing XI in order to add more variety. The Sourashtra bowler will have tough competition from Umesh Yadav. The advantage of having Unadkat in the playing XI is he can add more variety to the bowling attack. More so as Australia have five left handers in the batting order in the likes of David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey.
A lot will depend on the conditions and the wicket whether Indian think tank goes in with an extra pacer or a spinner. If India plays an extra pacer then both Umesh and Unadkat can get a nod at the expense of Ravichandran Ashwin. If Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid decides to go in with two spinners, only then Ashwin will get a chance. In that case it will be either Umesh or Unadkat who will play. There are thoughts of including Shardul Thakur as well because of his good all round ability.
The next couple of practice session will give a clear picture as to what will be the bowling combination for India in the World Test Championship final against Australia to be played at the Oval from June 7.