While Team India was under quarantine in Mumbai and was waiting to travel to the UK for the upcoming final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC), their counterpart New Zealand played a two-match Test series against England.
As a lot of fans and cricket experts felt the Kiwis will definitely have an edge over Indians as they are more used to the English conditions, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar felt it will be a well-balanced final and two-Tests New Zealand have played in England won’t be a huge advantage.
“It is even-stevens in my view because both the teams are well balanced. There are some who think New Zealand have the advantage of being match ready (having won the two-Test series 1-0 in England),” Gavaskar said.
“But then India will be match hungry and fresh and eager to get on the ground after a month of inaction. India have more impact players with both bat and ball and they should win this game,” he added.
When these two teams met last year in a Test series in New Zealand, the home team ended up on the winning side as the Virat Kohli and Co. could not get going and faced a lot of problems.
The 71-year-old, who was also the first batsman to get over the 10,000 Test runs mark, then talked about even though Team India was troubled in New Zealand, they will be able to counter the swing in England.
“India did have problems in New Zealand but unless the weather is wet and cold, they should be able to counter swing and movement in England,” the right-hand batsman said.
Thus, it will be really exciting to see the top ranked teams in ICC Test rankings taking on each other and fighting it out for the title from June 18 at Southampton.
(With IANS inputs)
