With WTC Final Excitement Peaking, Ex-Cricketers Pick Their Playing XI, Take A Look

Apart from the Ishant Sharma/Mohammed Siraj question, Manjrekar has pointed out why Vihari could also make the cut in place of Ravindra Jadeja. Check out the predicted playing XI of team India for World Test Championship Final, according to experts.

New Delhi: The World Test Championship Final is set to be played on Friday. The excitement of the first-ever edition of the WTC Final is reaching its peak. But it is still unclear, who will be part of India's playing eleven. In this article, we will see what playing eleven have some of the former cricketers have picked for India. 

There seems to be a general consensus on whom the Top 5 will be in the team. Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane will be India's top-order as per almost all experts. But there seems to be a conflict in how India's bowling lineup would look like. Some are choosing Siraj over Ishant, while some are going with an extra batsman. Rishabh Pant is another player who seems to be constant in everyone's playing XIs. 

One by one, let's look at what some of the experts have chosen to be their playing XI. Former batsman, Sanjay Manjrekar was involved in a controversy recently after he disagreed on calling R Ashwin 'the greatest of all-time', let's look at his Playing XI first: 

Sanjay Manjrekar's playing XI for WTC final:
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Manjrekar has gone with form over experience as he picked Siraj over the experience of Ishant Sharma. He also picked Hanuma Vihari in place of Ravindra Jadeja, which is a little shocking. But it has to be noted that Hanuma Vihari was recently playing county cricket in England and is used to the conditions in Southampton. 

Wasim Jaffer, in a cheeky way also expressed who he would pick in India's playing XI. Take a look at the tweet below. 

Actually, he has picked up the following team: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Unlike Manjrekar, Jaffer has spiked Ishant in place of Siraj. 

Harbhajan Singh also picked his best team and picked Siraj in place of Ishant Sharma due to his current form and the quick nature of his bowling. 

But unlike Manjrekar, Harbhajan preferred to have Ravindra Jadeja too in the side. Harbhajan Singh's Playing XI below:

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

The news was being floated that Virat Kohli might pick 4 pacers in the side due to the overhead conditions, but Deep Dasgupta has explained why such a scenario is not likely to happen. "you play four seamers, invariably one bowler will be under bowled. Generally, the fourth pacer gets to bowl only 8-10 overs while the other three bowlers shoulder most of the responsibility," he told Sportskeeda. 

Deep Dasgupta's playing XI for WTC final:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Yet again, Ishant is being given preference over Siraj. 

Former England spinner, Monty Panesar and Indian batsman Akash Chopra, too have chosen the same team which was chosen by Jaffer. What do you think? Whom should Virat Kohli pick in the final XI?