IND vs AUS WTC Final 2023: The much-anticipated India vs Australia World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final will be played at The Oval in London from 7th to 11th June. Many Indian players have already arrived in London for the WTC Final. Meanwhile, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has selected a combined playing XI of Australia and India ahead of IND-AUS WTC final. Ponting handed over the command of Australian cricket team to India's Rohit Sharma, while Aussie star Alex Carey has been chosen as the wicketkeeper.
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Ponting included Rohit Sharma and Usman Khawaja in his team as openers, Marnus Labuschagne to bat at number 3 in the middle order, while Virat Kohli for the fourth position. Steve Smith has been selected at number 5, spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja at number six and wicket-keeper Alex Carey at number 7. Ponting's combined WTC Playing XI's bowling unit consists of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Mohammed Shami.
"I'll start with Usman Khawaja. His last couple of years, whether it has been in Australia or away, have been outstanding at the top of the order," Ponting Picks 7 said on The ICC Review podcast.
"Almost since he's been picked back in the Australian team, he hasn't put a foot wrong. The older he is getting, the better he is getting. I'm going left hand-right hand, so I'll go for Rohit Sharma as the other opener. He's not just entirely form-based either. I wanted him to be captain of the side.
"Pat Cummins, I mention him later, he'll be in this side, but just from the experience point of view with Rohit, he's obviously been captain a lot longer than Pat has, so I thought he deserved to be the captain of this team," he added.