The cricket fans and experts are eagerly waiting for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, scheduled to get underway on June 18 in Southampton between India and New Zealand.
With Kiwis playing two Tests against England before the WTC final, everyone is giving them an advantage for the marquee game but former spinner Monty Panesar feels the match can go either way.
“If there will be an overcast condition then Kane Willamson-led New Zealand will have an upper edge, but at the same time the Ageas Bowl has a great drainage system, and if weather permits and the game went on to Day four or five, India would have a great chance to win the championship,” Panesar told India Today in an exclusive chat.
According to Panesar, ICC will produce a neutral wicket for the inaugural edition of the WTC final.
“What I see, ICC would love to see the final going into the final day. I doubt it will be a green top,” he said.
Monty Panesar also shared his two cents on India’s playing XI for the WTC final, suggesting that both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin should be in the line-up.
While Panesar picked Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant in the batting line-up, he opted to go with Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami as three pacers.
“India must play both Jadeja and Ashwin. There is no one better than these two at present in the world. They bowl in partnership, understand each other’s game, and overall they are street-smart cricketers,” he remarked.
Monty Panesar’s India XI for WTC final:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami.
