Table of Contents
After nearly two years and 59 Test matches played between nine teams, we are all set for the final of the World Test Championship. India and New Zealand have emerged as the two best teams and have been absolutely consistent throughout this competition.
India were dominant in this WTC. Barring their 0-2 whitewash in New Zealand in early 2020, the Virat Kohli-led side won every series that they played. They thrashed West Indies away from home 2-0 before annihilating South Africa and Bangladesh 3-0 and 2-0 respectively at home.
The New Zealand tour was a small blemish before India recorded a jaw-dropping and mind-boggling 2-1 Test series win in Australia after being 0-1 down. In their last Test series in this WTC cycle against England, they lost the first Test but bounced back to win three in a row and storm their way into the final.
Meanwhile, New Zealand have also been pretty consistent in their WTC run. They started with a 1-1 series draw in Sri Lanka before they were whitewashed in Australia 0-3. Things looked bleak at the start of the WTC for the Blackcaps. However, Kane Williamson and co bounced back strongly. They played three back to back series’ at home and didn’t travel to Bangladesh for their third away series. But in each of their home series, they were in splendid form. They brushed aside India before putting it across West Indies and Pakistan in commanding fashion.
India have already named their playing XI for this WTC final. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the batting while Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane form the crux of the middle-order alongside wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. India is playing five bowlers and two spinners (Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin) along with their three premier fast bowlers (Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami).
New Zealand are expected to field a similar XI that played in the first Test against England. Devon Conway will continue to open with Tom Latham. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor slot in at 3 and 4 while Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling round off the top six. They might just have a problem of plenty as far as their bowling attack is concerned. They could well go in with an all-pace attack with Colin de Grandhomme as the all-rounder at No. 7. Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner forming the rest of the bowling attack. Ajaz Patel is the only spinner in the squad, and if he plays, it could well be in place of de Grandhomme.
Key Players
Rishabh Pant will be the X-factor player for India. The left-handed wicket-keeper batsman has been in stellar form in Test cricket for India in the last six months or so. In 2021, he has featured in six Test matches, and he has amassed 515 runs at an average of 64.37. Moreover, he has registered four half-centuries and a hundred. Every time India have been in trouble, Pant has stood up and delivered. He has played a huge role in India’s success and their road to this WTC final. Thus, he will be the key once again. His exploits in the middle-order with the bat and keep could well be a decisive factor.
Ishant Sharma is an experienced campaigner and will be a vital bowler for India. This is the fourth Test tour to England, and he has constantly improved. In the WTC, the veteran fast bowler has picked up 36 wickets at an average of 17.36 while striking at 36.3 and has recorded three five-wicket hauls. He has started bowling a lot fuller in the last few years and has been getting the ball to nip around quite a bit. Moreover, Ishant likes bowling to left-handers, and with three of the New Zealand top five being left-handers, he will be a huge threat.
Kyle Jamieson has had a magnificent start to his international career, especially in Test cricket. The tall 26-year-old fast bowler has played seven Test matches and has returned with 39 wickets at a stunning average of 15.15. He strikes once every 37 deliveries. Jamieson also constantly troubled the Indian batters in his debut series in early 2020 and took nine wickets in two Test matches. Furthermore, he bowled well in the first Test against England at Lord’s. Hence, he will be the one to watch out for.
Kane Williamson is the glue at No. 3 in this New Zealand batting line-up. He doesn’t have a great record against India and also has had his share of struggles in England. However, the New Zealand skipper has been in pretty solid form in the WTC. He has aggregated 817 runs at an average of 58.35, including three hundreds, out of which two were double tons. Moreover, Williamson can play spin and pace equally well, and he will be the key against a strong Indian bowling attack.
Prediction
Both India and New Zealand are very well stocked up on all fronts. Be it the batting line-ups or the bowling attacks. Both sides seem to have all bases covered. The only place India are ahead is in the spin department with the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The two pace attacks are absolutely lethal.
NZ have been in England for more than a month now and have played a couple of Test matches. They won that series against England 1-0 to add the icing on the cake. Hence, they may have a better idea of the conditions. But India have constantly fared well overseas and have competed superbly.
It is a dicey call, and both teams look pretty even on paper. Additionally, there is rain predicted on all days of this historic Test match, including the reserve day. Hence, it tough to predict which side starts favourite heading into this WTC final.
