R Ashwin or Mohammed Siraj for WTC Final? Netizens debate FURIOUSLY on India's playing 11

On Friday, the India squad for WTC Final vs New Zealand news was declared by the All-India Senior Selection Committee. India will play the first ICC WTC final alongwith a five-match Test series against England. The Indian players will first visit Southampton to compete in the WTC Final. India qualified for the final after their 3-1 win during the England series at home earlier this year. 

Final India squad for WTC Final 

• Rohit Sharma
• Shubman Gill
• Mayank Agarwal
• Cheteshwar Pujara
• Virat Kohli (Captain)
• Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-captain)
• Hanuma Vihari
• Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper)
• R. Ashwin
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Axar Patel
• Washington Sundar
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Ishant Sharma
• Mohd. Shami
• Md. Siraj
• Shardul Thakur
• Umesh Yadav
• KL Rahul (fitness clearance)
• Wriddhiman Saha (Wicket-keeper; fitness clearance).

India squad for WTC Final: Fans debate over R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj's places

My Playing 11 For WTC Final

1.R.Sharma
2.S.Gill
3.C.Pujara
4.V.Kohli (C)
5.A.Rahane (VC)
6.H.Vihari
7.R.pant(WK)
8.R.jadeja
9.R.Ashwin
10.M.Siraj
11.J.Bumara

This is My playing 11☝☝
What's your.??@vikrantgupta73 @rawatrahul9 @BCCI @imVkohli @ajinkyarahane88

— Pawan Bhatia (@PawanBhatia199)

My XI for the World Test Championship Final:

1. Rohit
2. Gill/Mayank
3. Pujara
4. Kohli
5. Rahane
6. Pant
7. Jadeja
8. Vihari/Ashwin
9. Bumrah
10. Ishant
11. Siraj/Shami

Ashwin will end up playing over Vihari. Would like to see Siraj over Shami. Gill and Mayank will be tough.

— Jai Elhance (@JElhance)

Ishant will be automatic choice but Kohli may choose between Shami or Siraj

— Ravi Rajagopal (@ravir1971)

exactly

— rishika jha (@rish_crick_fam)

Hardik in place of Ashwin
Siraj should be in playing 11 squad

— frea_king_VK18 (@Shannuakhil25)

My playing 11 for world Test championship Final
S gill
R Sharma
C pujara
V Kohli (c)
A rahane (w.c)
R panth (wk)
R Ashwin
R jadeja
M shami
M siraj
J gumrah
It's my best 11 against respected team new zealand
We can trust in siraj how he bawl in Australia in thought condition
🙏

— kailash k sathaliya (@skailash000)

Naturally, the squad being announced has resulted in fans debating over the playing XI for the final. R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj gained more attention than the others. Some fans were in favour of selecting both of them, especially since the latter played consistently against Australia in January with flying colours. Others chose Hanuma Vihari or Ashwin, while hoping to see Shami being preferred over Siraj.

India vs New Zealand final date and venue

• Date – June 18 to 22, 2021
• Venue – Southampton
• Time – 3:30 PM IST

(Image credits: R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj Instagram)