Another tough choice India need to make is in the wicket-keeping department.
Rohit cops blow on left thumb day before WTC final
India's much-vaunted top order let them down at The Oval
Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-Test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase.
'If I had to make a call whether to head back to India and finish the tournament, it would be an easy decision. It's a no from me. Lives and safety are the most important thing, not pay cheques.'
Perhaps, another Ranji title with Mumbai will be a fitting send off for Ajinkya Rahane.
Australian batter Steve Smith on Thursday said his bowlers reaped the benefits of relentlessly targeting the off stump.
The Meteorological (MeT) department of the UK has predicted a 30 per cent chance of precipitation during the afternoon,
A calf injury forced Josh Hazlewood to miss being part of Australia's World Test Championship win two years ago and the fast bowler is keen to avoid a second such heartbreak.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the WTC Final between Australia and India, played at The Oval, in London, on Sunday.
The four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy that promises a lot of twists and turns, engrossing sub-plots and probably career-defining performances.
Showers are expected in the afternoon session and the groundsman will have a job in hand. But rain won't interfere in the post-tea session.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels the potency of Australia's pace attack in English conditions gives them the edge in next month's World Test Championship final against India, who could be "badly affected" by the absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.
Harbhajan feels Siraj can pip Ishant for a place in the final XI.
'What made my comeback possible was enjoying each and every moment, be it success or failure, and having no regrets. Learning from every individual in Mumbai Ranji team. You have to grow as a cricketer every single day, learning process shouldn't stop.'
In 10 days from now, Gill and Sharma will open the Indian innings in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in London.
Skipper Williamson cleared to play; spinner Patel included in 15-man squad
Fit again Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari made their way back into the Indian Test squad, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya was left out for next month's IIC World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the five-match series against England.
Australia is on the cusp of scripting another milestone. If the Baggy Greens trounce the Proteas, they will become the first team to defend the WTC mace successfully.
Lungi Ngidi's call-up indicates that Kagiso Rabada, who missed the team's memorable win in Kolkata due to a rib injury, is still uncertain for the Guwahati Test
''South Africa have got some world class batters and obviously they've got some unbelievable bowlers there as well so it's going to be a good challenge and obviously it's a one-off Test match.'
Ganguly is hopeful that Virat Kohli's men will bring the World Test Championship trophy home
'If we can get some pace and bounce in the pitch, but not too one-sided towards seam movement, we'll be happy.'
Aiden Markram himself knows what he is capable of -- and how to express it on a cricket field. And South Africa will be the biggest beneficiary in the coming years.
Rohit is confident of tackling the New Zealand attack, having faced it enough in the shorter formats.
India were 146 for 3 against New Zealand before bad light stopped play in the weather-marred World Test Championship final, in Southampton, on Saturday.
The Indian players will get a 20-day break from the bio-bubble life in the UK after the completion of the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, to be played in Southampton from June 18 to 22.
Taking aim at senior players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, among others, he said that if their aim was to prolong their send-offs till after the Ashes, it was a wrong mindset.
Images from Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Saturday.
India have relied on their spin strength on rank turners to gain points in WTC cycles in the past but Gill has said he wants his side to play on tracks that offer equally to batters and bowlers.
The final hour or so of Day 3 is expected to remain clear, but overcast skies promise to remain throughout, which may once again lead to light issues in the final stages of the day.
Steve Smith has once again proved why he's Australia's go-to man in crunch matches-by eclipsing none other than Sachin Tendulkar in a major ICC knockout record.
Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement from Indian cricket on Sunday prompted an outpouring of tributes, none more heartfelt than Jaydev Unadkat's.
Armed with a potent spin attack, taking on South Africa seems like competing against a "subcontinent team", Ten Doeschate said, admitting that they need to get better at negotiating the challenge posed by tweakers.
'These quicks are dominating every day,' the skipper tweeted.
'...The players and staff deserve a lot of credit for the standard of cricket we have played over the past two years. It would be a great reward for everyone to finish as World Test Champions.'
'If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that's fine.'
South Africa's batting hero Aiden Markram has taken longer than expected to deliver on his promise, but a match-winning century against Australia in the World Test Championship final is being hailed as the biggest in the country's cricketing history.
India go with Ashwin and Jadeja with three seamers for WTC final
One of the factors that contributed to the downfall of the Indian team was the shambolic batting display throughout the series. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja thoroughly underperformed.
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