World Test Championship

A report in Sportstar says in all eleven cricketers -- comprising seven squad members, a reserve and three support bowlers -- along with the support staff will leave for England in the early hours of Tuesday. It added that apart from Kohli, Ashwin and Siraj, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat will be leaving for England too.

After consultations with specialists, it has been decided that Rahul will undergo surgery at the earliest followed by rehab at the National Cricket Academy for the same. He is ruled out of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia, the BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah informed in a release on Monday.

The 34-year-old Rahane, who was out of the India team since the Cape Town Test against South Africa last year after an extended run of low scores, recently made his comeback to the Indian side after being named in the side for WTC final courtesy his spectacular form in the ongoing IPL 2023.

Australia's reign at the top of the Men's Test Rankings comes to an end after 15 months with India going past the Aussies ahead of next month's ICC World Test Championship Final. India currently sits at the top of the ladder with 121 points, with Australia in the second spot with 116 points.

The BCCI has announced the Indian squad for the World Test Championship Final scheduled to begin on June 7 at Kennington Oval against Australia. Senior India batter Rahane made his India comeback on the back of a stellar show in the Ranji Trophy and followed it up with a brilliant run in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.

Taylor feels Australia will put their faith in the fellow left-hander Warner, who found his mojo with a double century against South Africa at the Boxing Day Test, though could manage scores of 1 & 10, 15 & DNB in the first two Tests before returning home with an injury in Australia's away series defeat to India.

The two teams figured in the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India recently the hosts won 2-1. But the WTC Final will be a different ball game as it will be played in seaming conditions with the Duke balls. In those conditions, Jasprit Bumrah would be a bit asset.