Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has predicted the winner of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 final, set to take place in Dubai today (14th November).
The final of the T20 World Cup 2021 will see Australia and New Zealand clashing with each other. Both the teams displayed quality cricket in their respective groups and performed sensationally in the semi-finals to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.
While New Zealand stunned England to win the match by 5 wickets, the Aaron Finch-led side defeated rampaging Pakistan to see themselves in the summit clash of the tournament.
Read Also: T20 World Cup 2021: ‘Australians have an edge over New Zealand’, opines Wasim Akram ahead of final
With only a few hours remaining for the final between Australia and New Zealand, many fans and pundits have started to pick their favourites for the summit clash. While some say, the Kane Williamson-led side being one of the most consistent sides in the ICC tournaments will lift the trophy, many say that Australia will have an edge over the Back Caps.
Writing in his blog for Betway, Kevin Pietersen said that although New Zealand has all the bases covered but Australia will have an edge over them. He remarked that when these two met in the final, history suggests that the Aaron Finch-led side has blown away the Black Caps.
He recalled Australia’s win over New Zealand in the final of the Cricket World Cup 2015, saying that he won’t be surprised if the Aaron Finch-led side lift the trophy.
“New Zealand seems to have all bases covered, but I fancy Australia. History suggests that when you get these two together in a major final, the Aussies blow the Kiwis away. It's what happened in the 2015 50-over final in Melbourne. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Australia lift the trophy on Sunday,” Kevin Pietersen wrote.
Pietersen said that when it’s do or die situation, the Australian way is to get the job done. He admitted that the Aaron Finch-led side has been a formidable opponent for a long time and if they manage to reach the semi-finals they’ll find something extra.
"It's the Australian way that when it's do or die, they do. They'll just get the job done. That's why they've been a formidable opponent for such a long time. If they get themselves into a semi-final of a major tournament, they'll find something extra," he said.
Read Also: ‘Lot of people had written us off from start’, Finch not surprised by Australia’s march into final
Kevin Pietersen called Warner a "great example" of players who are written off after one bad run and then come back strong when their teams need them the most.
"David Warner is a great example of that. People like to cut sportspeople down very quickly after a bad run - and make no mistake, Warner was struggling with Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL - but he hasn't had the success he's had because he's a rubbish player. He's shown his class in this competition when his team needed him most. It's not a coincidence," he said.
It remains to be seen who among them with lift their maiden T20 World Cup title.
(Betway inputs)
