Former England captain Kevin Pietersen is worried for the Indian cricket team as they neither have the game time nor the proper preparation for the big ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand starting on Friday (June 18) at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Pietersen further pointed out that New Zealand had the fantastic preparation for the WTC 2021 Final having outplayed England in a two-match Test series last week, whereas Team India hasn’t had played cricket for nearly two months after the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021).
The Englishman has further insisted that no team can be prepared well for a Test match in England without proper warm-up matches and having been involved in an IPL and that’s where he fears for India’s chances in the WTC Final against New Zealand.
He also said India is behind in terms of their preparation for the WTC 2021 Final while winning the Test series in England boost New Zealand’s chances to win the World Test Championship Mace.
Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betway Insider: “New Zealand have had fantastic preparation for this World Test Championship final. They've played two Test matches against England and basically outplayed them in both. You can't prepare for a Test match in England having been involved in an IPL that was called off a month ago and with no proper warm-up matches at all.”
Read Also: WTC 2021 Final: BCCI announces Team India’s playing XI for WTC final against New Zealand
He concluded, “Their (New Zealand's) pace bowling against England was fantastic – Tim Southee at Lord’s and then Matt Henry, who probably won’t even play in this match, at Edgbaston. You only get one or two chances in a one-off Test match, and I fear that India may be behind on their preparation.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
