Offspinner R Ashwin, who hasn’t played a game in the World Cup since India’s opening match against Australia on October 8, has emerged as an attractive option for the final against the same opponents on an Ahmedabad pitch that could assist spin.
Ashwin, who was drafted into India’s World Cup squad as a late replacement for injured left-arm spinner Axar Patel, was India’s second-most economical bowler (1 for 30) in the league match against Australia in Chennai. India’s three spinners – Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav – took combined figures of 6 for 104 in 30 overs in that game.
India captain Rohit Sharma did not get drawn into discussing India’s XI when asked about Ashwin at the press conference on the eve of the final, merely saying all options were open.
“Any of the 15 can play,” he said, “the opportunity is [there] for everyone. We will assess the pitch properly today and then tomorrow as well. Twelve-thirteen are fixed, but we just have to see how the pitch looks tomorrow morning. Have to see what our strengths are and what their weaknesses are.”
Australia’s weakness against spin has been apparent throughout the World Cup. Against South Africa in Lucknow, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi took 4 for 68 in 17.5 overs as Australia slumped to a heavy defeat. And in the semi-final in Kolkata earlier this week, Aiden Markram joined Maharaj and Shamsi to dial up the pressure in the chase of 213. Australia lost four wickets to spin in that game, and scored only 89 in 28 overs.
Even in matches where Australia scored heavily, they were contained by spin. New Zealand’s part-time offspinner Glenn Phillips took 3 for 37 during their innings of 388 in Dharamsala, and Pakistan’s occasional offspinner Iftikhar Ahmed conceded only 37 in eight overs as Australia amassed 367 for 9 in Bengaluru.
The World Cup final will be played on the pitch that was used for the India vs Pakistan fixture on October 14. It has been reported that the surface had the thumbs-up from ICC’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, whose leaked email about the change of pitch ahead of India’s semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai had attracted attention.
2:12
Kumble: ‘Don’t see toss being that much of a factor’
Anil Kumble and Tom Moody on the toss and dew factors ahead of the World Cup final in Ahmedabad
Rohit said the pitch for the Pakistan match had looked a “lot more tired than this one”, which had some grass on it. “From my understanding, it’s going to be slightly on the slow side,” he said on the eve of the final. “But we will come and assess tomorrow. It’s not going to change too much but it’s always nice to see the pitch on the day of the game and assess what you want to do. That is something we have maintained for a long time, it’s not new for us, and it’s something we have done. Come and assess the pitch on the day of the game.”
Dew is a factor that India would have to consider if they are thinking about a three-spinner attack, because if Ashwin replaces Mohammed Siraj, they will have only two specialist quicks – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya, now injured, was the third seamer when Ashwin played the league game against Australia.
“Don’t know how much of a factor dew will be”, Rohit said. “In the Pakistan game, the day before the game, there was a lot of dew, but none during the game. That’s why I keep saying the toss is not going to be a factor. Got to play well regardless of conditions.”