Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has backed Team India to outclass New Zealand in the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, starting on June 18 in Southampton, England.
Recently, the BCCI announced a 20-member squad for the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand starting on June 18 at the Rose Bowl, Southampton followed by a five-match Test series against England from August to September.
Reacting to India's chances in the WTC Final, Patel said that the Indian squad looks “really strong” and all the bases covered, and given their depth and lethal pace attack, Virat Kohli and his team will have an upper hand over New Zealand to win the ultimate prize in Test cricket in England.
Speaking on the Star Sports show Cricket Connected, Parthiv said: “I think it looks a really strong squad. If you want to compare India and New Zealand squad, we have covered all the bases. If you talk about fast bowlers, we have got Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammad Shami. If either of them is not fit, then there is Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, enough depth in the squad.”
On a batting line-up, the former cricketer pointed out: “If you talk about batsmen - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant. There are proper batsmen who can bat well in England.
Everyone has got runs and there is a spare batsman in KL Rahul, imagine KL Rahul not finding a place in this Test squad. So, how strong this squad could be.”
The 36-year-old also said that the return of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was out of the national team since sustaining a thumb injury on the Australia tour last December makes the spin department more lethal.
He signed off by saying, “Akshar Patel, who was probably Man of the Series or Man of the Match in a lot of matches against England. He came in place of Ravindra Jadeja and it never felt like Ravindra Jadeja was out. Now Ravindra Jadeja will be back, Ashwin will be back. So, this squad looks really strong.”
