India Likely To Stick To XI Named Before Rain Says Fielding Coach R Sridhar

India are looking to stick to the playing XI they announced on Thursday for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand at Hampshire Bowl even though they have an option to change it b

The WTC final will extend into the reserve day on June 23. As of now, after the first day's washout, at least four hours of the reserve day will be used. As many as 98 overs are to be bowled on the second if a full day's play tales place.

A team can be changed until its nomination at the toss. And since the toss for the WTC final is yet to take place, India can tweak their starting XI if they change their strategy following the rains.

It will be interesting to see if India rest one of the two spinners - R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - and bring in a pace bowler, taking into regard the windy and wet conditions at Hampshire Bowl. At the time of the toss, both teams exchange team sheets and after that no player can be changed unless there has to be substitution for either concussion or Covid-19.

Rule 1.2.1 of the playing conditions of WTC final states, "Each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 4 substitute fielders in writing on the team sheet provided by ICC. Other than as set out in clauses 1.2.7 and 1.2.8, no player (member of the playing eleven) may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain. Immediately prior to the toss, the ICC Match Referee or his nominee shall check with both team captains that the players nominated on the team sheets are correct."