In the 2023 World Test Championship final, Australia confidently crushed India by 209 runs. Most of the Indian players chosen for the match had just finished two-and-a-half months of demanding IPL T20 cricket. While a few Australians, some by decision and others due to not being selected in the IPL auction, entered the match right and seemed to be in great match shape.
Following the loss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma remarked, “In an ideal situation, yes, I would wish we had 20–25 days to get ready for a match like this.”
Ravi Shastri, in his statement, said, “Let’s be realistic here. You’re not going to get those 20 days. And if that’s the case, then you’ve got to miss IPL. So, the choice is yours, and it’s up to the establishment as well. I’m sure the BCCI will review this in the future. If a World Test Championship [final] is going to come after an IPL every time in the month of June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises.”
Compared to their Australian counterparts, the Indian team clearly lacked red-ball preparation. Players like Steve Smith and Travis Head, who skipped the IPL, scored centuries during the match and appeared completely comfortable with the nuances of Test match cricket. Whereas the Australian bowlers showed a strong command of Test match lengths.
Though some Indian batters, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane, demonstrated their talent with some gorgeous shots and encouraging starts. They eventually succumbed to the disciplined Australian bowling attack, often playing aggressive drives against deliveries that could have been left alone. Having just come off a gruelling IPL season in which they were used to bowling just four overs, the bowlers battled to meet the longer requirements for World Test Championship.
