India and New Zealand will lock horns in ICC World Test Championship Final next month. The much-awaited final will be played in England at Rose Bowl Cricket Stadium in Southampton from June 18, 2021. India played 6 bilateral series while New Zealand played 5 bilateral series before finalizing their berth in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

India won 12 matches and lost 4 matches during the tournament while 1 ended in a draw. On the other hand, New Zealand won 7 matches and lost 4 during the tournament. Both the teams topped the points table, in the end, to make their way for the final. A total of 9 teams were part of the ICC World Test Championship, which started in 2019.

INDIA: Sodhi said

Former Indian cricketer Reetinder Singh Sodhi has opined that Kohli’s Team India can defeat New Zealand in the finale of the World Test Championship as it has players who can adapt to any conditions.

While speaking to India News, Sodhi said, “The conditions will be adverse. The match is not in India, it is in England. But when we talk about Team India’s form, the way we play in adverse situations, these are not different conditions for us. We have players who can adapt. We have capable bowlers; our batting is fantastic. If we talk about our slip catching in Test matches, that is also very good.

“If we talk about a few years back, we used to come under some pressure, we used to face some difficulties, but if we talk about this team and their present form, about the history Team India, created on the Australia tour, there is nothing much to worry about.

“If India plays to their potential, the World Test Championship final will definitely be ours,” signed off Sodhi.

Read more: Shakib will not play in the remaining PSL to participate in Dhaka Premier League

New Zealand:

Cricket stadiums in England are similar to New Zealand to that of India. The ICC World Test Championship final match will be played at England’s Rose Bowl cricket stadium in Southampton. Pitches and weather in England offer a good amount of swing and pace, which help the fast bowlers. These conditions are very similar to that of New Zealand grounds.

On the other hand, these conditions are totally opposite to Indian grounds where spinners enjoy the great support and pace bowlers suffer due to dew and other factors. 

New Zealand will find home-like conditions in England. 

Pacers will play a big role in ICC World Test Championship final as conditions in England are more expected to favour pace bowlers.

Tim Southee is an experienced pacer who is also the 5th highest wicket-taker in World Test Championship so far with 51 wickets in 20 innings. Pacer Kyle Jamieson has also bowled brilliantly in the tournament with 36 wickets in 12 innings. Trent Boult has scalped 34 wickets in 18 innings