Virat Kohli is expecting a high-quality Test match between the top two sides in the rankings, although he has an issue with New Zealand being framed as ‘the nice guys’ of world cricket.
India has a bowling attack more than capable of taking 20 wickets anywhere in the world, with the quintet of pacers Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja among the best on the planet.
Virat Kohli Don’t Think Any Other Team Unlike New Zealand Has Bad Guys
New Zealand is the only team to beat India in the WTC. The Kiwi pace attack of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner has time and again displayed its ability to extract any purchase from the pitch and would be raring to do the same at Southampton.
“I really don’t understand this term that was just used – I don’t think any other team has ‘bad guys’ in their team,” said Kohli.
“We get along very well off the field but when you step across the line, it’s business at the end of the day and you need to deal with it accordingly. It’s pretty serious stuff out there, it’s not something that is fun and games and played in a very low voltage environment.
“This is a huge game, a huge Test match and we are certainly looking forward to the opportunity that we have been waiting for a few years now.”
“In Test cricket we have performed well and deserve to be on that field playing the brand of cricket we’ve played in the past few years. For us as a team, we have been on a quest for excellence for a while now and we will continue to be on that path regardless of what happens in this game.”
India had deployed both their spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the final XI at the Ageas Bowl. However, after much debate, Indian team management has gone with Ishant Sharma over Mohammed Siraj as the third seamer along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in the final playing XI.
The 32-year-old veteran pacer has been selected for his experience of playing in England and his effectiveness against left-handed batsmen. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will be the other two-seamers in the star-studded bowling attack.
New Zealand on the other hand, is yet to finalize their squad even though captain Kane Williamson said that everybody is fit and available for selection. The Kiwis also have an impressive seam-bowling attack at their disposal and will have to leave out at least one of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, and Matt Henry.
Virat Kohli Is Yet To Deliver The Goods In Tests In 2021
The Indian skipper has not had the best run with the willow in 2021 in Tests. In the 6 innings that he has played in the whites this year, Virat Kohli has scored only 172 runs and has scored his runs at an average of 28.67.
Also, since November 2019, a three-figure score has eluded Virat Kohli in the Test format as well. His last ton came in the first-ever day-night Test between India and Bangladesh at Kolkata.
India has announced their playing XI ahead of the WTC Final, and both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be a part of the playing XI for the WTC summit clash against the Kiwis. New Zealand will enter this monumental clash on the back of a series victory against England.