Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final which is scheduled to be played from June 18 to 22 all eyes are stuck on the Indian team as it's all set to feel the heat against New Zealand. India finished at the top of the World Test championship table and is a massive achievement to get into the finals. The Indian squad for the final was announced a month back and most of the players from the test series against England were retained. No wonder, the squad has put in lots of effort to get to the stage they are in and undoubtedly they deserve to be in the final.
While the Indian team has pulled up their socks against NZ, former cricketer Maninder Singh and England's former captain Kevin Pietersen have heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja. Notably, the left arm spinner's performance in IPL 2021 and overseas cricket has been quite impressive making him a game changer for India's on-pitch battle against New Zealand. During the IPL 2021 season, which was postponed indefinitely on May 4 due to a breach in the bio-secure bubble, Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Jadeja amassed 131 runs at 162.32 and picked up six wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja is going to play a huge part in the final as he has been the man in form for India over the last two years in tests. He has performed really well with useful contributions down the order and has also been bowling really well in the overseas conditions too. He is coming back from an injury and is expected to start in the playing XI.
To be noted, the left arm spinner offers a lot more in the field and he is one of the complete all-rounders India is having at the moment with Hardik Pandya not bowling off late. He has been in very good form in the IPL and can change the game in a very quick time with the bat.
Jadeja's stature has grown significantly in world cricket ever since he revealed his 2.0 version with the bat. The 32-year-old by now has also impressed most of the former greats of the game. Jadeja's batting average in Test cricket has shot to 36.18 and he's scoring runs more consistently than he's even done in his career.
Interstingly, Ravindra Jadeja and New Zealand's Tim Southee have faced each other in the semi-finals of the 2008 Under-19 World Cup and after 13 years the two will clash again on the battle field.
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team is gearing up for their first training session at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton ahead of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, starting on June 18. The Virat Kohli-led side landed in England on June 3 and are currently in a three-day mandatory quarantine before starting their training and practice sessions.
India's opponents New Zealand, meanwhile, are busy playing a two-match Test series against hosts England.
