With India’s focus shifting to the WTC final against Australia to be played at The Oval on June 7, India will have to come up with a different plan. They have to find other heroes. It is certain that Axar will not feature in the XI. He will be really lucky if he finds himself a part of the final WTC team. Veteran India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik believes that seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur could replace him in the Indian XI for the WTC final.

Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz –

“To be brutally honest if everybody is fit, especially if Ashwin and Jadeja are fit, you will have to say that Axar will miss out. I think Shardul will take his place.”

Karthik added – “Absolutely (India might play either Ashwin or Jadeja). To be honest, that’s where the Indian team made a mistake last time playing both spinners and they didn’t bowl them much. It’s a one-off game. You can’t look at it in the bigger scheme of things.”

He further added – “It’s a year-end match for a lot of the players in many ways as after that there will be a fresh cycle. So you have to go into the match thinking ‘what is my best XI to win that game?’ If that means leaving Ashwin or Jadeja out, so be it. We’ve always seen Jadeja get the nod ahead because he can bat better.”

Dinesh Karthik also added –

He also added that wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat will be under the scanner following a below-par series at home against Australia with the bat and the gloves. Karthik said – “Don’t forget that KS Bharat has had a tough series with the gloves so he will be under the scanner as well.”

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