Days Before WTC Finals India Seems to Have a Batting Edge Over Kiwis

India has an edge against the New Zealand team…learn more…

Monday, 14th June 2021

As the World Test Championship (WTC) finals near, the Indian side have geared up their preparations and are playing intra-squad matches.

Days ahead of the finale scheduled to begin on June 18 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, against New Zealand, it is being observed by experts that the India’s batting side seems to have an edge over the opposition in terms of its preparedness and experience.

Out of the top 15 scorers in the World Test Championship, India has as many as five batsmen whereas New Zealand has none.

At number 16, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is the highest placed with his 817 runs scored at an average of 58.35. One reason why his placement on the list is unenviable is because of the number of matches he played. Williamson was a part of just nine matches while the Indian players above him on the list have played many more.

The indian players who have made their way above Williamson in the list of run scorers are Cheteshwar Pujara (818 runs in 12 matches at an average of 29.21), Mayank Agarwal (857 in 12 matches by at 42.85), Virat Kohli (877 in 14 matches at 43.85), Rohit Sharma (1030 in 11 matches at 64.37) and Ajinkya Rahane (1095 in 17 matches at 43.8).

However, despite the long list, apart from Sharma, none other player has been able to match Williamson’s batting average. Although, lower down the list, all- rounder Ravindra Jadeja too has a better average (58.62) than the New Zealander with his 469 runs in 10 matches.

Other top scorers among the Kiwis are Tom Latham (680 runs in 11 matches at an average of 40.00), Henry Nicholls (585 runs in 10 matches at 41.78), Ross Taylor (469 in 11 matches at 31.26), BJ Watling (417 runs in 10 matches at 29.78).

Unlike Team India, New Zealand will be coming to the ground with some amount of acclimatisation with the local conditions having played a two -Test series against England.

Also Read: Gundappa Viswanath Makes Team India Aware of a “Good New Zealand” Side Before WTC Final.

The players from the Indian side, who were last seen in action during the now postponed Indian Premier League, 2021, arrived in England on June 3 and served a mandatory three-day quarantine at the on-site hotel. After the WTC final, India will face England in a five-match Test series.

The WTC cycle had commenced on August 1, 2019 during the Ashes.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source:

TimesofIndia Indiatimes