ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out for in IND vs NZ final- After a lot of drama and exciting cricket under the leadership of Virat Kohli, Team India reached another final of ICC event. India topped the WTC points table after winning 12 matches in across six Test series. India’s win percentage was 72.2 while New Zealand’s percentage was 70.0.
Kane Williamson’s New Zealand on the other hand reached the finals after finishing second on the points table. The WTC final will be played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton from June 18.
Now as both the teams gear up for the first-ever final of WTC, we at Inside Sport will take you through five player battles to watch out for from the final.
ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out- Battle 1
Virat Kohli vs Trent Boult
The last time when Virat Kohli faced Trent Boult in England, results were not quite in favour of Team India. However, this time the format is new and Virat Kohli loves batting in England. In 10 Tests that Virat has played in England and Wales, he has scored 727 runs at an average of 36.35. This average might suggest that Virat struggles in England as he has a 50 plus average in South Africa and Australia. But we must consider Virat’s disastrous tour of England in 2014. When the Indian team toured England in 2018 Virat scored 3 fifties and two hundred in the five-match series. Virat will aim to continue his recent good run in England but for that, he will have to tackle New Zealand’s, Trent Boult.
ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out- Battle 2
Ishant Sharma vs Kane Williamson
Ishant Sharma is currently the most experienced players in the Indian dressing room. The 32-year-old made his Test debut in Australia way back in 2007. Ishant will once again be leading the Indian pace attack in the WTC final vs New Zealand and thus as a leader will be expected to outdo Kiwi leader Kane Williamson.
New Zealand’s talsiman Kane talisman Williamson looks like a batsman born to play Test cricket. With his consistent performance, he has proved himself as the best batsman in his side. But even the best in the business have their weakness. Kane’s weakness is the top of off stump, which is a very hardball for any bowler to bowl. However, with over 13 years of experience, Ishant is expected to deliver whatever it takes to keep Kane’s bat silent.
ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out- Battle 3
Rohit Sharma vs Tim Southee
Rohit Sharma rediscovered himself in 2013 when he started opening the batting for India in limited-overs cricket. His cricket took a U-turn after that and he became one of the best limited-overs batsmen. Just like that ever since he has started opening for Team India in Test cricket, he has become an all-new level Test batsman. So far the talisman has seven centuries under his belt which also includes a double-ton. However, Rohit still needs to perform outside the Indian subcontinent. In India’s tour of Australia 2021, he showed a glimpse of form but could not hit a big score. But as we all know Rohit is the man of big matches and he will not get a bigger stage than the final of WTC.
But Rohit will have to tackle the swing of Tim Southee. The New Zealand veteran is known for swinging the ball both ways. The right-arm pacer can take good advantage of overcast conditions in England. Southee can trouble Rohit in the initial stage of his innings and it will be an interesting battle to watch.
ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out- Battle 4
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Neil Wagner
Cheteshawar Pujara has emerged as the new wall of Indian cricket. The right-hand batsman has batted for days and days without shading a tear of sweat. But pacers have often troubled him with a quick bouncer. Pujara has struggled to get out of the way and end up playing the ball with his body or sometimes even his head. New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner will like the exploit this weakness of Pujara. The left-arm pacer has a very quick bouncer in his arsenal and he will aim it towards Pujara’s body. Only time will tell if Wagner’s bouncer will win the fight or Pujara remains the last man standing.
ICC WTC Final: 5 key matchups to watch out- Battle 5
Jasprit Bumrah vs Ross Taylor
Ever since his debut in 2018 Jasprit Bumrah has become India’s lead bowler in Test cricket as well. Bumrah made his debut against South Africa in 2018 and has so far picked 83 wickets in just 19 Tests which also includes a hat-trick. The right arm pacer has five 5-wicket hauls under his name. In a span of fewer than three years, Bumrah has become Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler, every time the team is in a crunch situation. Bumrah will be up aginst Blackcaps most expeince batsman i.e. Ross Taylor.
In the recent past, Taylor has redefined himself as a Test cricketer. He has been consistent and pulled his team out of many crises. With 105 Test matches in his name, Ross will want to deliver another magical perfomance in the WTC final.