New Delhi: Hours after New Zealand named their final 15 for the WTC Final, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad on Tuesday.
While Virat Kohli will lead the team against New Zealand in Southampton, Ajinkya Rahane will serve as his deputy.
India have left out Mayank Agarwral and Shardul Thakur, who was marked as the fast-bowling all-rounder as Hardik Pandya failed to make the Test squad for the England tour.
India have made it quite clear that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who opened for them in Australia, will be facing the new Dukes ball in Southampton as they haven’t named either Mayank or KL Rahul.
India, however, have named fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari. Senior pacer Umesh Yadav also finds a spot.
India squad for WTC Final: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Similarly, with their 15-membered team, Captain Kane Williamson cleared his playing in the WTC final.
New Zealand have left out five players from their 20-man squad, including Doug Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner.
New Zealand will go into the clash with one specialist spinner in 32-year-old left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme.
New Zealand WTC final squad: Kane Williamson (C), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner BJ Watling and Will Young.
The World Test Championship Final will be played between India and New Zealand at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Southampton from June 18.
