‘Never Underestimate The Value Of IPL Preparation’: Australia Legend Names Favourites For WTC Final

Ian Chappell feels the potency of Australia’s pace attack in English conditions will give 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.

Shreyas Iyer and K L Rahul are another two Indian players who have been ruled out off the June 7-11 final due to injuries.

Chappell also said injury-prone Hardik Pandya not playing red-ball cricket also harms India. Hardik last played a first-class game in 2018.

“The injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant badly affect India, as they would be outright favourites with these two playing.

“The somewhat surprising unavailability of allrounder Hardik Pandya also harms India, as he could have provided them with the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle,” Chappell wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo.

Majority of the Indian players go into the final after two months of IPL but Chappell feels that might not negatively impact them after all.