The Rahul Dravid-coached side went in with a four-pronged pace attack and preferred Ravindra Jadeja over seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The 35-year-old had announced his Test retirement after the 2021 tour of India, saying that he just felt like I was not in it', having also lost a full contract sometime in 2019.
India have been the most consistent side over the past two WTC cycles and also reached knockout phases of major white-ball tournaments over the last 10 years but a trophy has eluded them.
“Australia are just favourites...India have got a couple of little uncertain areas in their team I think in terms of how selection and injuries are concerned," Ricky Ponting said.
India’s win at the WTC final could do wonders for the format as it straddles between the glory of the past, the dwindling popularity in the present and an uncertain future
A member of the 2015 ODI World Cup winning team and the 2021 T20 World Cup winning side, Starc will be looking to add another ICC event to his name when he turns up for Australia in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval starting on Wednesday.
According to the 'Hybrid Model' proposed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi, Pakistan were to conduct 3 to 4 games of the Asia Cup in their country, while the rest of the matches involving India could be held at a neutral venue.
The format of the World Test Championship is as complicated as it can get at the moment.
Captain Rohit Sharma & Co will be high on morale, having just put behind a successful IPL season. Cheteshwar Pujara has already got into the long-form mode, scoring three centuries and a fifty for Sussex in the English County Championship
The Ultimate Test begins at The Oval as India takes on Australia in the World Test Championship final. Fans eagerly await the intense contests between Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Starc and Cheteshwar Pujara against Nathan Lyon. The clash between Kohli and spin remains a concern, while Ashwin poses a threat to left-handers. The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown.
Even the Asian Test Championship, started in 1998, was not the first ever multi-nation Test tournament. For that, we need to go way back to 1912, when the triangular tournament was held, and later forgotten.
India No. 3 Pujara spent the last couple of months representing Sussex in the English County, and he scored heavily.
For the Aussies, the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final can be a distraction ahead of the Ashes, India hardly got a week to breathe after the IPL, but India have a tough game ahead against the tunnel-visioned Australians.
The five-Test Ashes against England beginning June 16 has dominated the headlines over the past few months as Australia seek to win the marque series away from home for the first time in 22 years.
India utilised three spinners during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with both Ashwin (25 wickets) and Jadeja (22) shinning bright to help their side claim a 2-1 series win.
Dhoni, who led Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title, had flown to Mumbai from Ahmedabad after the final
World Test Championship final is starting June 7 at the Oval in London.
India's Test batting mainstay Pujara could provide valuable insights to his teammates, having played extensively at Sussex in the English County Championship, while Kohli is at his absolute best having cracked two centuries and six half-tons for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League.
In over 140 years of Test cricket in England, Australia have had one of the worst records at The Oval, which will host the final from June 7 to 11 between the top two Test sides.
With Pujara's knowledge and captaincy experience (at Sussex), his inputs could prove invaluable, especially against Australian batter Steve Smith, who is also a part of his county side.
Josh Hazlewood, who has been battling with multiple injuries over the last six months, had to cut short his IPL stint with a side issue. However, he feels he is not far from bowling full tilt as Australia gear up for the big final.
The Indian team is expected to have a few practice sessions at the Arundel Castle Cricket Club in Sussex ahead of the big final.
The venue offers one of the best batting conditions in the UK with true pace and bounce. India are expected to play their frontline spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in their bid to make the most of the conditions.
Insiders confirmed to PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have specifically come to Lahore to get some assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the national team's participation in the World Cup in October-November.
Srinivasan spoke to the CSK captain on Tuesday morning and congratulated him and his team for the "great victory".