WTC Final 2023: Ahead of the World Test Championship Final, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar said that Indian players’ biggest challenge will be to shift their focus from the IPL T20 mode to Tests. Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Australia at The Oval on June 7, with a majority of the players coming from a couple of rigorous months of playing in the IPL, which concluded on Monday, May 29. Follow World Test Championship Final LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“The biggest test will be the fact that just about everybody will be coming out of a T20 format, and Test cricket is a longer format. So, I think that’s going to be the big challenge,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports on Tuesday.
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Gavaskar on Pujara and Rahane
He added that among all the India players only veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara was well acclimatised to the longer format as he has been playing county cricket.
“They (India) have only Cheteshwar Pujara who has been playing in the English County Championship, so he will be the only guy who has played the longer format in these conditions, so that’s going to be the big challenge for them.”
On Ajinkya Rahane, who after a long form slump has come back strongly in the IPL and helped CSK win the title this season, Gavaskar said the the 34-year-old’s experience of English conditions will be beneficial to the side.
“He’s got a lot of experience having played in England, having scored runs in England. So, yes, I think he is going to be crucial down at number 5. And yes, I do believe he has a point to prove, I still feel he has got plenty of cricket left in him, and this is a wonderful opportunity for him.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator hoped Rahane makes full use of the opportunity that has come his way to extend his professional career. “I’m hoping he will be able to grab this opportunity with all the experience that he has and make a place for him back in the Indian team.”
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