Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar has said that India will certainly play the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma as the three pacers in the playing XI for the World Test Championship against India.
"The seamers will play a part and India has got as formidable an attack as any in the world. I think that's been their strength over the last few years. Whether it is a Bumrah, Shami - the No.1 bowler for me for a Test line-up for India and Ishant Sharma, he has gotten better over his career as he has played," Agarkar told Star Sports.
He also said that the number of pacers in the playing XI can only increase if India will be presented with a green surface in Southampton for the big clash against New Zealand. He cited a lack of clarity on the likely conditions but said that a dry pitch is unimaginable in the month of June in England for the WTC final. Also, he said that the Duke balls will enable bowlers with some sort of assistance all the time and hence a fourth seamer can’t be a far-fetched possibility.
"So, those three certainly will start and if it is a green seaming wicket, you might see a fourth one for all you know. We still don't know what the conditions are likely to be but we presume in England, with the Dukes ball in particular, there will always be help for the seam bowlers. You can't imagine a pitch being very dry in mid-June," he added.
India have Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur as backup seamers behind the trio Agarkar picked in his first-choice pace attack.
The World Test Championship final will be played from June 18 and the challenge is likely to a stiff one for the Virat Kohli-led side against a New Zealand bowling attacks that is comprised of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner.