The Indian cricket team’s contingent for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final is now complete, as Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja have arrived in London. The players’ delayed arrival was due to their participation in the IPL 2023 final on May 28. Having represented their respective IPL franchises, Rahane, Gill, Jadeja, Shami, and Bharat have now shifted their focus to the highly anticipated IND vs AUS WTC Final at The Oval. With the squad now assembled, head coach Rahul Dravid is conducting intensive training sessions to prepare the players for the challenging conditions they will encounter.
Following their IPL commitments, Rahane, Gill, Jadeja, Shami, and Bharat have joined the Indian squad in London. They were part of different IPL teams, with Gill, Shami, and Bharat playing for GT and Rahane and Jadeja representing CSK. Now that the IPL is concluded, the players have swiftly shifted their focus to the WTC Final, eager to contribute to India’s success against Australia.
Head coach Rahul Dravid wasted no time in commencing the training sessions for the Indian team. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Axar Patel had their initial training sessions. Kohli and Rohit focused on batting, engaging in extended sessions to fine-tune their skills. Meanwhile, Axar, Shardul, and Siraj concentrated on bowling, familiarizing themselves with the conditions they will encounter at The Oval.
The playing conditions at The Oval will present a significant contrast to the ones encountered in India. Understanding the importance of acclimatizing to the conditions, coach Rahul Dravid has emphasized getting the players into the Test groove ahead of the mega finale against Australia. With no warm-up matches scheduled prior to the WTC Final, the training sessions hold even more significance in helping the players adjust and perform at their best.
To simulate match scenarios and enhance team preparations, Rohit Sharma and his teammates will engage in intra-squad games. These practice matches will provide valuable opportunities for players to test their skills, strategize, and build team chemistry ahead of the crucial contest against Australia.