Both Team India and New Zealand will square off each other in the WTC final on 18th June.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman backed Team India to start as favorites in the final of the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
Team India is all set to lock horns against Kane Williamson-led side in the final of ICC WTC at Rose Bowl in Southampton from June 18-22.
With less than two weeks remaining for the final of the ICC event, many fans and pundits have already started predicting their favorites. Some say Team India being high on confidence will clinch the title while some say New Zealand facing England before the final will give them added advantage to seal the Trophy.
In an interaction with Sportstar, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman lauded both the teams but backed Team India to win the WTC final, saying that they have played good cricket over some time and have embraced all the challenges and overcame all the obstacles they faced.
“Both the teams are good, but I think India will start as favorites because of the way the Indian team has played - not only over the last couple of years but over some time.
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“They have embraced the challenges and have overcome whatever obstacles they faced - as recently as the Australia series - and there's a lot of talent and depth in this Indian line-up. But having said that, since it’s a one-off match, I feel whichever team bats well in the first innings will hold the ace,” VVS Laxman told Sportstar.
Laxman pointed out that whichever team would bat first would give them an added advantage and that side will dictate terms throughout the match.
“I believe that both teams are evenly matched. I believe that because this is a one-off match - and not a series - whichever team bats well in the first innings, will have the edge and that side will dictate the terms throughout the match,” he said.
Laxman said that New Zealand playing England in the two-Test series is an advantage for them because in a one-off match final in overseas conditions team needs practice. He added that theoretically, New Zealand has an advantage over Team India.
“Well, theoretically, that's an advantage for New Zealand, because whenever you play any Test match in overseas conditions, you at least would like to play one - if not two - (practice) matches before the main match.
“There’s no doubt it helps you to get acclimatized to the conditions. That’s always been the norm for so many years. Especially for the batsmen, it will take time to get used to the new conditions. So, theoretically, New Zealand has the advantage,” he said.
“But India has not taken a backward step, irrespective of whatever challenges they have faced. The series win in Australia was a testament to their character and their positive mindset.
“ I have never seen a bigger challenge for any team like the Indian team faced in Australia, where they lost the first Test after being bowled out for 36, and their regular captain (Virat Kohli) was not available for the remaining matches.
“All the senior players started getting injured one after the other and then you had the almost second-string Indian team taking on a mighty Australian team in its backyard. Irrespective of all the challenges, they went on to win the series in such an emphatic manner!” said VVS Laxman.
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VVS Laxman further said that even though New Zealand is used to English conditions but Virat Kohli-led side will have an intense training session before the final which will help them counter the disadvantage they have.
“So, even though theoretically, New Zealand - who is already accustomed to the English conditions - may have the advantage, I am sure the Indian team will maybe have intense training sessions before the final.
“The intensity with which they will practice and being switched on mentally for every session will help them to counter this disadvantage they have,” he concluded.
(Sportstar inputs)