WTC Final: Shami, Bumrah or Ishant? Ajit Agarkar picks India’s best fast bowler in Test cricket

WTC Final: As the days are accelerating towards June 18- the World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand at Southampton, so have been the discussions hovering around the probable playing squad. With England’s conditions quite different from Asia’s spin-assisting turf, speculations for the pick among the pace battery has hogged the limelight.

Ahead of the prestigious five-day WTC clash, Indian cricketer turned commentator- Ajit Agarkar gave his pick for the pace attack for the clash against New Zealand. Agarkar named Mohammed Shami as his first pick in the three spots for the pacers in the Indian squad.

Agarkar’s preferred Indian seam attack

During a recent discussion among Jatin Sapru, Parthiv Patel and Ajit Agarkar on the Star Sports show Game Plan, the former Indian pacer opined of his choice of the speedsters in the Indian squad. Agarkar picked Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma as his preferred seam attack for India.

“The seamers will play a part and India has got as formidable an attack as any in the world. I think that’s been their strength over the last few years. Whether it is a Bumrah, Shami – the No.1 bowler for me for a Test line-up for India and Ishant Sharma, he has gotten better over his career as he has played,” said Agarkar.

WTC Final: India might play a fourth seamer

Indian bowling great pointed out that in the case of an extra green pepper on the turf, India might feature a fourth seamer. Under the normal circumstances, Team India is likely to play Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja along with three pace bowlers.

“So, those three certainly will start and if it is a green seaming wicket, you might see a fourth one for all you know. We still don’t know what the conditions are likely to be but we presume in England, with the Dukes ball in particular, there will always be help for the seam bowlers. You can’t imagine a pitch being very dry in mid-June,” observed Ajit Agarkar.

Waiting eagerly for the riveting contest between the two sides, Agarkar furthered that each contending finalist would try hard to immortalize their side in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.

“It is a big deal. Everyone remembers the first person to get to any sort of landmark and that’s what makes it special. So, to be involved and particularly in the middle when the rules changed, the percentages came into play when India was way ahead at one point, they still had to get the job done. Both teams will be up for it and both teams will be very excited to be a part of it,” highlighted Ajit Agarkar.