Kohli, Shastri must tell Ashwin, Jadeja they can get wickets in WTC final'.

In his only Test in 2014, Jadeja picked up 5 wickets while Ashwin in his lone attempt here in 2018, could manage only 3. But in both of those Tests, the opposition finger spinner Moeen Ali, picked up a total of 17 wickets, scripting India’s downfall not once but twice.

A World Test Championship final in England with the Dukes ball. Two sides possessing just the perfect combination of swing, seam, youth and experience to make that ball talk. Ideally, there could not have been a better setting for seamers vs batsmen battle. But India, unlike their opponents New Zealand, have the ability to test the batsmen not only with pace but also with spin. In Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India perhaps have the most potent spin-bowling combination in world cricket. Former India cricketer Maninder Singh believes Virat Kohli and the team management should use that to their advantage and play both of them together in the WTC final starting on June 18 in Southampton.

The Ageas Bowl – one of England’s modern Test venues – has shown little signs of being drastically different compared to the other grounds in the country. In other words, swing bowlers have dominated the proceedings here, picking 137 of the 176 wickets in the 6 Tests. Ashwin and Jadeja’s record at the venue doesn’t ooze much confidence either. In his only Test in 2014, Jadeja picked up 5 wickets while Ashwin in his lone attempt here in 2018, could manage only 3. But in both of those Tests, the opposition finger spinner Moeen Ali, picked up a total of 17 wickets, scripting India’s downfall not once but twice.

Maninder is not known to be a numbers man. During the conversation, he gave no hints to suggest his fondness for Moeen's off-spin either but he sure does know a thing or two about the importance of spin-bowling in England. A bright spot in India’s 1986 tour to England, the former left-arm spinner said the Indian finger spinners can play a decisive role in the WTC final.

“If I was in the team management, I would play both Ashwin and Jadeja. They can be a huge factor,” Maninder told Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat.

“There is going to be wear and tear anywhere as the Test match progresses. I keep talking to my friends there (in England) and they say it has become hot, these summer temperatures will soar. So if it is going to be the way it is then moisture won’t be that be effective. The pitch will dry out and spinners will start getting purchase and both are spinners are of good quality,” he added.

India have not preferred playing Ashwin and Jadeja together in an overseas Test. In England, they have done it only once in 2014 at Manchester without much success. But this time, things might be different. Maninder says, because of Jadeja’s current form with the bat and Rishabh Pant’s match-winning abilities at No.6, India have the luxury of going with their most balanced bowling attack of two spinners and three spinners.