India vs New Zealand (IND vs NZ) WTC Final Test Live Cricket Score Streaming Online Updates: The inaugural World Test Championship will be decided from Friday between favored India and No. 1-ranked New Zealand in Southampton. India start as favorite because of the greater options at its disposal, but will go in under prepared. New Zealand warmed up well in the Tests against England and dominated both, winning the second match at Edgbaston inside four days.
Despite an extra day reserve, the final is less at the mercy of captains Kane Williamson, Virat Kohlli and more at the weather. The forecast is challenging. If the outcome is a draw, the trophy will be shared.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
For the Indian captain and his team, the WTC final is like their Test debuts as young players trying to come up the ranks. "If you are deciding Test cricket on the basis of one game over a period of five days, that's not the reality or the truth. It's not going to reflect anything for people who understand the game and know what exactly has gone on in the last four to five years," Kohli said on the eve of the big final when asked if he is bothered by his team's record of losing key ICC games. "If you look back at history and look at what has gone wrong on a given day, you realise you are only playing a sport. If we win this game, cricket doesn't stop for us and if we lose this game, cricket doesn't stop for us," Kohli, gave one of his signature, long and winding answer.
Up against the “best New Zealand” side of the past 35 years, India should opt to bat first even if the conditions are overcast as that is what has worked best for the side during overseas tours, feels BCCI President and former captain Sourav Ganguly. “If you dig into the record books and see India’s best overseas performances (save 2021 Australia), we have always won matches when we have batted first. It’s about a choice whether you want to face the pressure first up in adverse conditions or wait for the fourth innings,” Ganguly told ‘Aaj Tak’.
India captain Virat Kohli was not trying to undermine the World Test Championship final with this statement.By calling the WTC final “just another game of cricket,” Kohli, who is yet to win an ICC title as skipper, was only trying to play down the hype of the duel, while at the same time attempting to re-assert the legacy of his team. READ MORE.jpg?authuser=0)
India has gone with two spinners for the World Test Championship final at Southampton that is likely to see several rain breaks. With the forecast predicting frequent showers all through the match, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar talks to the Indian Express about the tactics and skills needed to counter constantly changing overhead conditions. READ HERE
India is playing spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in a five-man bowling attack against New Zealand in the world test championship final starting on Friday. India surprised by announcing its team a day early on Thursday, rather than wait as long as possible to try and confirm the weather forecast, which is for poor conditions at the spin-friendly Rose Bowl.
India has gone with the five expected batsmen plus wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, but the five bowlers are playing together for the first time. Ashwin, the world's best offspinner, and Jadeja, the world's best left-arm spinner, join right-arm quicks Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. Jadeja and Shami missed the last series against England at home because of respective thumb and elbow injuries.
New Zealand will wait until the toss to reveal its side.
Rain and overcast conditions took over on the eve of the start of the WTC final, and unfortunately, Day 1 doesn't appear too different. Unfortunately as predicted it’s a wet start to the Final, but there is a good news, the weather is improving each minute. As per a recent weather update, rain is being predicted throughout Friday, which not only hampers the start time of the match, but also threatens to wash the day out.
Virat Kohli carries the expectations of a billion while cricket romantics will pin their hopes on Kane Williamson when India and New Zealand engage in a battle to create a lasting legacy in pristine whites in the inaugural World Test Championship final starting in Southampton on Friday.