Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir believes New Zealand will have a slight advantage over India in the World Test Championship final because they have match practice before coming to Southampton. Kane Williamson-led New Zealand have defeated England 1-0 in the two-match Test series.

HIGHLIGHTS

• India will lock horns with New Zealand in the WTC final
• The WTC final between India and New Zealand will be played in Southampton
• India and New Zealand should go for win, says Gambhir

Former India Test batsman Gautam Gambhir believes that bowlers win you the Test matches, and the current Indian team is lucky to have a great depth in their bowling unit.

I have always believed that it is bowlers who win you the Test matches. To win a Test match, you need to take 20 wickets, and I think the current Indian bowling line-up can trouble any team at any surface,” Gautam Gambhir told Aaj Tak on eSalaamCricket.

“The depth in Indian bowling attack is immense,” feels Gambhir.

The one-off match at the Rose Bowl marks the culmination of a two-year cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC), launched in 2019 to create Test cricket’s pinnacle event.

Former India opener said it is difficult to predict a clear favourite in a one-off match, but New Zealand will have a slight advantage just because they will have match practice ahead of the much-awaited WTC final.

“It is difficult to predict the favourites in the one-off final. But I feel New Zealand will have a slight advantage because they have played two Test matches in England, and most importantly, they have won it,” said Gambhir.

“You can play as many intra-squad matches, but there is no substitute to match practice. As a result, new Zealand will be better prepared for the WTC final,” added Gambhir.

Gautam Gambhir feels that both the teams will go for the win because playing for a draw is not an option.

“Both India and New Zealand should go for the win. There is no point playing for a draw in the WTC final as it is not a bilateral series,” says Gambhir.