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Virat Kohli has 'no regrets' on naming XI in advance despite 8-wicket loss to NZ in WTC final

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Virat Kohli said it was a ‘unanimous decision’ not to change the XI and it was done primarily because India did not have a seam-bowling all-rounder in their squad.

India captain Virat Kohli said he had no regrets of naming the playing XI for the World Test Championship final beforehand despite losing to New Zealand by 8 wickets at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. India had announced their playing XI on the eve of the WTC final and decided to stick with it despite the consistent rain and overcast conditions.

Kohli said it was a ‘unanimous decision’ not to change the XI and it was done primarily because India did not have a seam-bowling all-rounder in their squad.

“No I don’t think so,” said Kohli in the post-match presentation when he was asked whether he had any regrets about the playing XI.

“You need to have a fast-bowling allrounder for that. We've been successful with this combination in different conditions. We've been successful with this combination in different conditions. We thought this was our best combination, and we had batting depth as well, and if there was more game time, the spinners would have come into the game more as well,” Kohli added.

The WTC final went into the reserve day with all three results possible but draw being the most likely one. However, Tim Southee produced an inspired performance with the ball that helped New Zealand bowl India out for 170 in the second innings.

Chasing 139 to win in the remaining 53 overs, New Zealand lost openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway to Ravichandran Ashwin but their two most experienced players Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor put on an unbroken stand to see their side home.

Kohli lauded New Zealand’s consistency and said they thoroughly deserved to be crowned as the inaugural WTC winners.

"First up, big congratulations to Kane and the whole team. They showed great consistency and heart to pull out a result in just over three days, sticking to their processes to put us under pressure. They deserved the win. The first day got washed out, and when play resumed it was difficult to get any momentum. We lost only three wickets, but we could have got more runs if play had gone on without the interruptions.

“Today, the Kiwi bowlers executed their plans to perfection and pushed us back, and we were probably 30 or 40 runs short," he said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...new-zealand-in-wtc-final-101624473134729.html
 
Why he would have regrets,he has a lot of sponsors,fanbase,IPL money,his regular income which is more than any of the cricketers right now plus his wife is an actor,he is living his dream life but if he has conscience then he would be sad.
 
To be honest I do find this naming XIs beforehand a little odd.
 
team selection was not an issue

people had doubts on Shami and Ashwin and both did well

he wouldn't have known beforehand that Bumrah will go missing
 
I for one, support his 2 spinner policy.

Had we put a bit more runs on the board in the first and second innings, the 2 spinner policy would have looked like a great move.

You back your 3 pacers to do good in bowler friendly conditions. It's ridiculous to think you need a 4th pacer in case 3 fails on bowler friendly tracks.

Thats like saying we need Axar too in case Ashwin or Jaddu fail on a spinning track.

The issue was he needed to pick SWING bowlers:

I wished he picked Siraj.

But then the tough question was in place of whom?

I would have gone in place of Shami.

But maybe if I had seen Bumrah bowling the way he had in nets, then maybe Bumrah.

Hindsight says:

Siraj-Thakur-Shami-Ashwin with an extra batter would have been the best option.

But how many could have predicted this accurately?

This was a tough selection and he would have got grief from fans no matter what.

But how he used his resources...the less said about it....the better.
 
A lot of people don't realize the UNREAL flexibility playing both Ashwin & Jaddu gives us.

We wouldn't have won in Melbourne and saved the test in Sydney if one of them wasn't picked.

Melbourne 2020

1st innings - Ashwin performance
2nd innings - Jaddu
3rd innings - Ashwin

We won.

Sydney 2020

First innings - Jaddu performance. Ashwin didn't pick wickets.
Second innings - Jaddu lone ranger. Not out.
Third innings - Jaddu didn't bowl. Ashwin got 1 wicket.
Fourth innings - Ashwin saved the match.

---

Even in this test, remove Ashwin & Jaddu and we would have got bundled out for 180 first innings.

The issue is that our top 6 haven't been performing. Top 5 specifically.

We can get Washington Sundar in place of Ashwin to strengthen the batting. But the bowling weakens considerably.

We can get him instead of Jaddu....but then Jaddu has been averaging 60 in the last 2 years...and can support Ash way better than Washington can with the ball.

So all in all.....tough calls.

On the same token, it was a blessing in disguise for Ashwin & Vihari to get injured in Sydney.

Gabba needed Washington Sundar's batting more than Ashwin's batting or bowling.

Life can be quite ironic and funny. :))
 
For me jadeja shouldn't have played you only need 1 spinner and they named the team to early
 
A lot of people don't realize the UNREAL flexibility playing both Ashwin & Jaddu gives us.

We wouldn't have won in Melbourne and saved the test in Sydney if one of them wasn't picked.

Melbourne 2020

1st innings - Ashwin performance
2nd innings - Jaddu
3rd innings - Ashwin

We won.

Sydney 2020

First innings - Jaddu performance. Ashwin didn't pick wickets.
Second innings - Jaddu lone ranger. Not out.
Third innings - Jaddu didn't bowl. Ashwin got 1 wicket.
Fourth innings - Ashwin saved the match.

---

Even in this test, remove Ashwin & Jaddu and we would have got bundled out for 180 first innings.

The issue is that our top 6 haven't been performing. Top 5 specifically.

We can get Washington Sundar in place of Ashwin to strengthen the batting. But the bowling weakens considerably.

We can get him instead of Jaddu....but then Jaddu has been averaging 60 in the last 2 years...and can support Ash way better than Washington can with the ball.

So all in all.....tough calls.

On the same token, it was a blessing in disguise for Ashwin & Vihari to get injured in Sydney.

Gabba needed Washington Sundar's batting more than Ashwin's batting or bowling.

Life can be quite ironic and funny. :))

Why has Pandya been wrapped in cotton wool? He would have been an upgrade on Jaddu, a proper allrounder if he bowls
 
Why has Pandya been wrapped in cotton wool? He would have been an upgrade on Jaddu, a proper allrounder if he bowls
Pandya doesn't want to go into grind of working hard for 5 days when he is getting greater moolah by working for 3 hrs.

I don't think we'll see Pandya in whites, ever. He doesn't have heart for the rigours of test cricket.
 
The decision to play Jadeja on that wicket was atrocious. Jadeja is a hack with the bat outside India and needs certain conditions to be effective with the ball
 
A lot of people don't realize the UNREAL flexibility playing both Ashwin & Jaddu gives us.

We wouldn't have won in Melbourne and saved the test in Sydney if one of them wasn't picked.

Melbourne 2020

1st innings - Ashwin performance
2nd innings - Jaddu
3rd innings - Ashwin

We won.

Sydney 2020

First innings - Jaddu performance. Ashwin didn't pick wickets.
Second innings - Jaddu lone ranger. Not out.
Third innings - Jaddu didn't bowl. Ashwin got 1 wicket.
Fourth innings - Ashwin saved the match.

---

Even in this test, remove Ashwin & Jaddu and we would have got bundled out for 180 first innings.

The issue is that our top 6 haven't been performing. Top 5 specifically.

We can get Washington Sundar in place of Ashwin to strengthen the batting. But the bowling weakens considerably.

We can get him instead of Jaddu....but then Jaddu has been averaging 60 in the last 2 years...and can support Ash way better than Washington can with the ball.

So all in all.....tough calls.

On the same token, it was a blessing in disguise for Ashwin & Vihari to get injured in Sydney.

Gabba needed Washington Sundar's batting more than Ashwin's batting or bowling.

Life can be quite ironic and funny. :))

Shardul Thakur was equally critical at Gabba. Scored useful runs in 1st innings & took 4 wickets in 2nd innings . Could have been chosen for this Southampton test over Jadeja - wud have scored as many runs as Jadeja & most likely taken more wickets
 
Shardul Thakur was equally critical at Gabba. Scored useful runs in 1st innings & took 4 wickets in 2nd innings . Could have been chosen for this Southampton test over Jadeja - wud have scored as many runs as Jadeja & most likely taken more wickets

Definitely Shardul too.

Hero of Gabba.

However its not so straight forward in Southampton.

Shardul might have easily got out for a low score in such conditions and people would have complained that Kohli dropped a batsman who averaged 60 in the last 2 years for Shardul.

Another option is picking Shardul instead of Ashwin. Probably more safer. Then Kohli would have been lambasted for dropping our premier spinner for a guy who has performed in 1 game.

He should have picked 4 pacers but our other pacers are 3 number 11s....and Shardul's batting is unproven.

So Kohli chose to go the safer route and beef up the batting with 2 AR who will come into the game in the 2nd innings.

Hindsight suggests Shardul or Sundar should have played instead of Ashwin or Jaddu.

But whats straight forward was Siraj's selection.

Our best pacer on form.

But he had to drop Shami or Bumrah or Ishant for him cos if Siraj played, our tail would be wayyy too long.

Kohli was truly in an unenviable position.
 
But yeah Shardul or Sundar for Ashwin or Jaddu would have been the right call regardless of critivism.

Whats sad is not going with even one full on swing bowler in these conditions.

No siraj or shardul.

The impact of Bumrah's non performance is unreal.

Couldnt the team management have known how poor he was in the nets.

We messed up there.
 
Its the wolf story basically.

Kid keeps shouting wolf when there was no such wolf.

Villagers get sick of his antics and stop responding to his calls.

When a real wolf arrives, he gets screwed.

Kohli has made soooo many selection blunders over the past that no one is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

In a way, rightly so.

Poetic justice. :))
 
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I think the 2 spinner policy is ridiculous. Selecting them as all rounders in the hope that they will add a few runs is as dumb as it gets. You have to play your 4 best bowlers for the conditions no matter what.
 
Picking your 4 best bowlers is all nice and dandy before you realize they wont contribute a run except Shardul.

Lets replay the game in that scenario.

India gets bowled out for 180-200.

Due to superior bowling we restrict NZ to the same score.

Lets say we restrict them for a slender 20 run lead.

India collapses for 150 in 3rd innings.

NZ chase down 170 in 4th innings due to extra time generated due to our batting collapses and their first innings restricted.

NZ lift the cup.

India gets bashed for over analyzing.

Thanks for playing. ;)

-----

Unless our middle order scores and we dont have total tailenders for pacers, compromises will have to be made.

Ignoring it is ignoring reality.
 
Playing two spinner was a disaster, why would you ever need two? even one is more than required but if you have a great spinner and difficult to take out of team play one. Two spinners in England with rain forecasted almost every day is an unforgivable decision.

Kohli is one of the worst captain India ever had and even though I dont want to admit it has been a real chocker in the ICC finals so far in his long career.

He is talking about more game time but he did not realize that his team folded inside 3 and a half days even with so much time lost due to rain.
 
Picking your 4 best bowlers is all nice and dandy before you realize they wont contribute a run except Shardul.

Lets replay the game in that scenario.

India gets bowled out for 180-200.

Due to superior bowling we restrict NZ to the same score.

Lets say we restrict them for a slender 20 run lead.

India collapses for 150 in 3rd innings.

NZ chase down 170 in 4th innings due to extra time generated due to our batting collapses and their first innings restricted.

NZ lift the cup.

India gets bashed for over analyzing.

Thanks for playing. ;)

-----

Unless our middle order scores and we dont have total tailenders for pacers, compromises will have to be made.

Ignoring it is ignoring reality.

Let's just agree to disagree. I have maintained this stance regardless of whether India have won or lost. 2 spinners is too many in SENA countries. You either play the extra seamer or the extra batsman. Now, we may have lost anyway because our batting is crap in these conditions and Bumrah has lost his zip but that's not an argument in favour of 2 spinners.
 
Let's just agree to disagree. I have maintained this stance regardless of whether India have won or lost. 2 spinners is too many in SENA countries. You either play the extra seamer or the extra batsman. Now, we may have lost anyway because our batting is crap in these conditions and Bumrah has lost his zip but that's not an argument in favour of 2 spinners.

2 Spinners is an unforgivable error for international captain with over 10 years experience of playing international cricket. Looking at the forecast you didn't even need 1 but include 2? That was a blunder.
 
Let's just agree to disagree. I have maintained this stance regardless of whether India have won or lost. 2 spinners is too many in SENA countries. You either play the extra seamer or the extra batsman. Now, we may have lost anyway because our batting is crap in these conditions and Bumrah has lost his zip but that's not an argument in favour of 2 spinners.

True.

You have been consistent with your views mate.

My post wasnt meant as an attack on your post.

Bumrah losing zip screws up everything sadly.
 
I think the 2 spinner policy is ridiculous. Selecting them as all rounders in the hope that they will add a few runs is as dumb as it gets. You have to play your 4 best bowlers for the conditions no matter what.
Yeah and that when same thought process has fallen flat on its face just 3 years back in similar conditions.

Kohli is really a low IQ guy if he thinks he'll get away with such selection blunders especially at world stage.

His captaincy history is replete with so many selection blunders that it's not even funny anymore.
 
Indians here claim that he has brought forward fast bowling legacy to India and in actual fact he is always openly asking for rank turners at home and even in a big game and when the forecast is for rain 4 days out of 6 he played two spinners and only the very basic 3 fast bowlers.

He also talks about being positive and fearless but starts playing like Pujara in the bigger games himself.

Granted he is a great batsman and some Indians have no choice but to admire him but he is no way captain material.
 
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Yeah and that when same thought process has fallen flat on its face just 3 years back in similar conditions.

Kohli is really a low IQ guy if he thinks he'll get away with such selection blunders especially at world stage.

His captaincy history is replete with so many selection blunders that it's not even funny anymore.

Playing two spinners in England when it was clearly scheduled for rain almost every day and people worrying we will even get any cricket is a sin that should not be forgiven.
 
Kohli has a giant ego that won't let him admit his wrongs and stupidity. Siraj was badly needed in this test.
 
Definitely Shardul too.

Hero of Gabba.

However its not so straight forward in Southampton.

Shardul might have easily got out for a low score in such conditions and people would have complained that Kohli dropped a batsman who averaged 60 in the last 2 years for Shardul.

Another option is picking Shardul instead of Ashwin. Probably more safer. Then Kohli would have been lambasted for dropping our premier spinner for a guy who has performed in 1 game.

He should have picked 4 pacers but our other pacers are 3 number 11s....and Shardul's batting is unproven.

So Kohli chose to go the safer route and beef up the batting with 2 AR who will come into the game in the 2nd innings.

Hindsight suggests Shardul or Sundar should have played instead of Ashwin or Jaddu.

But whats straight forward was Siraj's selection.

Our best pacer on form.

But he had to drop Shami or Bumrah or Ishant for him cos if Siraj played, our tail would be wayyy too long.

Kohli was truly in an unenviable position.

Ideally ur bowlers should be taking 20 wickets & ur batsmen should be scoring runs

The problem is our middle order is in disarray. So Kohli took safety first approach with Ashwi & Jadeja. May be go with KL Rahul & Hanuma Vihari in place of Pujara & Rahane in future. Also Kohli himself is struggling with the bat
 
Let's just agree to disagree. I have maintained this stance regardless of whether India have won or lost. 2 spinners is too many in SENA countries. You either play the extra seamer or the extra batsman. Now, we may have lost anyway because our batting is crap in these conditions and Bumrah has lost his zip but that's not an argument in favour of 2 spinners.

Jadeja played as a batsman over Vihari as 7th batsman.His record has been superior

His bowling was bonus.

Could have played Sundar but it was a tough call before the match

Anyway these are fringe issues

Our main 3 batsmen have to contribute for us to win.You can't win with 217 & 170
 
The two spinner talk is a non issue. India can replace Jadeja only if they have a batsman who's better than Jadeja in the squad who can bowl, which there isn't.

The bigger issue is that 3,4,5 batsmen have been failing for a long time now. Kohli won't get dropped but it's time to look past Pujara and Rahane if they fail in the England series. Guys like Rahul, Vihari, etc., need to be tried in the middle order. It's crazy how the openers, spinners, fast bowlers get dropped if they don't perform but the middle order is above any scrutiny.
 
Playing two spinners in England when it was clearly scheduled for rain almost every day and people worrying we will even get any cricket is a sin that should not be forgiven.
Lol, and people here are even defending this blunder. Just can't believe it. He could have so easily changed XI considering first day was washed out and the toss was yet to take place.

But this is Kohli we are talking about, perhaps most delusional leader ever in history of cricket, the one who massively overrates his and his team's abilities.
 
The two spinner talk is a non issue. India can replace Jadeja only if they have a batsman who's better than Jadeja in the squad who can bowl, which there isn't.

The bigger issue is that 3,4,5 batsmen have been failing for a long time now. Kohli won't get dropped but it's time to look past Pujara and Rahane if they fail in the England series. Guys like Rahul, Vihari, etc., need to be tried in the middle order. It's crazy how the openers, spinners, fast bowlers get dropped if they don't perform but the middle order is above any scrutiny.

Exactly.He's a batsman who bowls

Only Pandya can replace him but hes not bowling anymore
 
Jadeja played as a batsman over Vihari as 7th batsman.His record has been superior

His bowling was bonus.

Could have played Sundar but it was a tough call before the match

Anyway these are fringe issues

Our main 3 batsmen have to contribute for us to win.You can't win with 217 & 170

Agree with this. These are marginal issues considering the failures of our batting lineup.
 
Unpopular view:

If Kohli gets kicked out, we will still somehpw perform better.

Dont need his runs.

I could be 10000% wrong but a part of me feels this way.

No disrespect to his credentials or what he has done for India but at times feels like he is just not needed.

He is the toxic super player who messes up yhe team's vibe.
 
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Exactly.He's a batsman who bowls

Only Pandya can replace him but hes not bowling anymore

Man...we Indians overrate Pandya the test cricketer a lot.

I have zero confidence when he bats or bowls.

Yes he does score and pick wickets and has won us games....but there is no assurance whether he would play well or not.

Someone like Bhuvi is a far more assured bowling AR.
 
Ashwin was very good this match while jadeja looked like a bowling machine for the most part.

But dropping jadeja for thalidomide would mean either thakur or ashwin have to bat no.7
Jadeja can be a crucial batsman
 
Ashwin was very good this match while jadeja looked like a bowling machine for the most part.

But dropping jadeja for thalidomide would mean either thakur or ashwin have to bat no.7
Jadeja can be a crucial batsman

I would advise against the move as it can cause defects in the future teams.
 
Man...we Indians overrate Pandya the test cricketer a lot.

I have zero confidence when he bats or bowls.

Yes he does score and pick wickets and has won us games....but there is no assurance whether he would play well or not.

Someone like Bhuvi is a far more assured bowling AR.

Both are good and needed in these conditions.Bhuvi at 8/9

Pandya has done well with bat and in these conditions he can do what Grandhomme did
 
Ashwin was very good this match while jadeja looked like a bowling machine for the most part.

But dropping jadeja for thalidomide would mean either thakur or ashwin have to bat no.7
Jadeja can be a crucial batsman

who?
 
Jadeja is a very good batsman, he just had an off-day in WTC Final. However, if his bowling is used just as a part timer, then they may better bat him at 6 or go for Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur combination at 7 & 8.
 
People are missing the point here.

Outside Asia, Jadeja is a poor man’s Shadab Khan with both bat and ball.

I’d rather play an unfit Pandiya than a fit Jadeja.
 
I don't expect Indian Kaptaan to regret over anything. Absolutely not.

Coz to regret over something, one needs to acknowledge that something went wrong, which this man would never do.

Case in point, just after his team folded under 3 days in the WTC final, I saw that he has now asked his batsmen to 'Take more Risks' without worrying about getting out. No amount of facepalms can be enough.
 
Jadeja is a very good batsman, he just had an off-day in WTC Final. However, if his bowling is used just as a part timer, then they may better bat him at 6 or go for Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur combination at 7 & 8.


His bowling would have been used more if we had one more day.The game lasted 3.5 days

Ashwin is a certainty.

Sundar can come in for a batsman
 
I don't expect Indian Kaptaan to regret over anything. Absolutely not.

Coz to regret over something, one needs to acknowledge that something went wrong, which this man would never do.

Case in point, just after his team folded under 3 days in the WTC final, I saw that he has now asked his batsmen to 'Take more Risks' without worrying about getting out. No amount of facepalms can be enough.

that's aimed at Pujara and not the worst advice

You can't allow bowlers to bowl at one spot.

No point of dead batting if you can't bat long anyway
 
Unpopular view:

If Kohli gets kicked out, we will still somehpw perform better.

Dont need his runs.

I could be 10000% wrong but a part of me feels this way.

No disrespect to his credentials or what he has done for India but at times feels like he is just not needed.

He is the toxic super player who messes up yhe team's vibe.

Just remove him from captaincy

Its the power he has thats the problem.Even Sachin didn't enjoy so much power
 
that's aimed at Pujara and not the worst advice

You can't allow bowlers to bowl at one spot.

No point of dead batting if you can't bat long anyway

No one knows whom it's aimed at with certainty, plus if you want one particular batsman to play a certain way, than you don't come out in media & give sweeping statements. By the way, he himself averages <20 & <30 in last 2 years, & he is the epitome of aggression, yet such dismal stats. So what statements he has for himself?

Bottom line is that this man is sinking the team, due to his below par captaincy. The team would benefit 100x if he let's the captaincy go, & contribute as a batsman alone, which he is brilliant at.
 
that's aimed at Pujara and not the worst advice

You can't allow bowlers to bowl at one spot.

No point of dead batting if you can't bat long anyway
When he himself is amongst our worst batsmen over last 2-odd years, he doesn't have any right to point fingers at others just because he is captain.
 
The dictator and his puppet have a toxic influence on the team. The team looked very relaxed and inspired once he left the Australian series.

It feels like when he gets out, everyone loses hope automatically because of his larger than life personality casting a huge shadow over the team while in Australia, in his absence, everyone was motivated to perform, take responsibility and be the hero.
 
The members of the Indian cricket team are reportedly on a break from the game after the World Test Championship final and will reassemble in the next two weeks to prepare for the five-match Test series against England. Owing to ongoing protocols and restrictions, the Indian contingent cannot return home despite the England series starting on August 4.

They will be staying in the UK and will kick off the preparations for the series in the second week of July. Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar is surprised with the break given to the Indian players and as per him, a one-week break after the WTC final was enough.

Speaking to PTI, Vengsakar said that he was amazed by this itinerary getting approved. "I don't know how we approach this kind of an itinerary. Where you go for a holiday in between and then come back to play Test matches. One week break was enough post the WTC final. The thing is you need to play continuously. I am amazed this itinerary was approved," he told PTI.

Vengsarkar also said that India's poor preparation cost them in the final against New Zealand. India dominated the proceedings in the league stage and emerged as table toppers with 12 wins in their account. However, they suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the summit clash.

"I enjoyed watching Test cricket over this cycle. India did extremely well over this cycle but the what cost them in the final was their poor preparation. They went into such a game without any practise games. New Zealand on the other hand were match fit having already played two games (against England)," Vengsarkar said.

India had reached the UK in the first week of June while the New Zealand players had reached there in the 3rd week of May. They also played two Test matches against England before the ICC event. NZ won the series 1-0. On the other hand, India hadn't played a red-ball fixture since the home series against England.

The Virat Kohli-led side has ample time to prepare for the England series and will hope that they register their first Test series win in the UK since 2007.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...mazed-with-20-day-break-for-team-india/776021
 
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