Virat Kohli has said the World Test Championship (WTC) final has a bit more value-added to it, but for his side, every Test matters and they play to win.
India is playing the WTC Final against top-ranked Test side New Zealand. The first session on Day One was washed out due to rain and it is likely that there could be no play as weather forecasts suggest more rain at the Ageas Bowl.
Virat Kohli Is Delighted That India Is In The WTC Final
The Indian cricket team has already announced its playing 11 while New Zealand’s line-up will be revealed after the toss. However, India captain Virat Kohli downplayed the importance of the WTC final and said the team was taking India vs New Zealand WTC final as one of the six Tests India is scheduled to play in the coming months.
“We are so delighted that we are in the final, we feel we have earned our place and belong where we are. We are happy some spectators are going to watch, which is justice for something of this magnitude because a big final without spectators would have been anticlimactic. It’s not the final frontier, it’s just another feather to add to our hat that we have created as a Test team,” said Virat Kohli.
“It’s a culmination of the toil over the last 4-5 years. We have identified these players and condensed it down, and for me as a captain and for us as a team, it’s not just good cricket over 6 months, but over the last 5 years,” Virat Kohli told broadcasting giant Star Sports.
“This is just a game that has a bit more value-added to it, but every Test has had the same value over the last few years which is why we’re ranked highly. Test cricket tests your grit and your resolve.
“You have to wake up and have the belief and determination to turn up and turn things around every day of the Test, how to come back from a tough situation and hang in there. It’s a metaphor for life,” Virat Kohli added.
India went for tried and tested players, preferring experienced Ishant Sharma over Mohammed Siraj in the Playing 11 for the WTC final vs New Zealand. On expected lines, the team picked two specialist spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who are also more than handy with the bat.
India playing 11 for WTC final: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin
WTC Final’s First Session Washed Out
“Update: Unfortunately there will be no play in the first session on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final. #WTC21,” BCCI tweeted.
Earlier, India’s spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin shared the view of Ageas Bowl as it continued raining.
“The camera also has a raincoat,” wrote Ashwin on Instagram while sharing a video of the ground. His wife Prithi Narayanan also took to Twitter to share the video of the ground and wrote, “Pouring down #WTCFinal.”
Rain is forecasted on all five days of the game, that’s why ICC has added a reserve day on June 23 but in case of a no-result, the Test Championship will be shared.
“The Reserve Day has been scheduled to ensure five full days of play, and it will only be used if lost playing time cannot be recovered through the normal provisions of making up lost time each day.
“There will be no additional day’s play if a positive result is not achieved after five full days of play and the match will be declared a draw in such a scenario,” the ICC release on the playing conditions read.
The Southampton weather has played spoilsport on Day 1 of the WTC final as the morning session has been washed out due to rain, informed BCCI. It has been raining in Southampton since yesterday and there is a forecast of rainfall during the course of the day as well. There is too much water on the field of play and on the covers.