Key Highlights :
The Indian cricket team faced a tough decision when it came to the selection of their team for the World Test Championship final. With the top-ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin left out of the line-up, many were surprised and even critical of the decision. However, India have defended their omission of Ashwin after they suffered a first-day mauling in the World Test final.
Ashwin has long been a tormentor-in-chief for Australia, with 114 wickets at 28.36 apiece, and regular success against a left-hander dominated top order. His absence was keenly felt as Australia finished in a dominant position on 3-327.
Paras Mhambrey, India's former Test seamer and now bowling coach, commented on the difficult decision to leave out the champion bowler. “It’s always a very difficult decision to drop a champion bowler like that,” said Mhambrey. “But looking at the (cool) conditions in the morning, I thought having the additional seamer would definitely be beneficial - and it also has worked in the past. The seamers have done well out here for us but you can always look at the hindsight, saying additional spinner would have been a different.”
The workload on the Indian fast bowlers appeared to have taken its toll come the last session as Travis Head and Steve Smith punished them mercilessly in an unbroken 251-run partnership. However, Mhambrey was still adamant India could win from their difficult position. “Yes, why not? The second new ball, we saw the ball was getting a little seam, it was getting cut,” he said. “Tomorrow morning will be an important session for us. If we take a few wicket pick-ups quickly, then definitely we have an opportunity to come back in the game.”
India have defended their decision to omit the top-ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin from their attack, despite the first-day mauling they suffered in the World Test Championship final. The Indian team is confident that they can still come back from their difficult position and win the game, provided they take a few wicket pick-ups quickly in the morning session. With the additional seamer proving to have worked in the past, India will be hoping that the gamble of leaving out Ashwin will pay off in the end.