Kohli, Williamson look to make history
India and New Zealand face off in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final at Southampton starting today, with a host of modern-day cricket's best red-ball players on show. The match could have a profound influence on cricket globally.
New Zealand are looking to shed the bridesmaids tag in big finals, having finished runners-up at the last two 50-overs World Cups. They were particularly unlucky in 2019 when England won the title via a now-scrapped boundary-count rule after the final ended in a tie even after a Super Over. The WTC final presents them with another opportunity.
On the other hand, India are yet to win an ICC trophy under skipper Virat Kohli.
India captain Kohli and New Zealand counterpart Kane Williamson are also two of the finest batsmen of their generation. Both skippers have scored more than 7,000 Test runs apiece, with each averaging over fifty -- the mark of enduring excellence.
Kohli has the better record in England, however, having made two Test hundreds during a 2018 series.
The duo presents a fascinating contrast in styles with Williamson's serene demeanour at the crease and understated leadership seemingly ideally suited to New Zealand's needs.
Meanwhile, Kohli's aggression and demanding desire for personal excellence has improved both India's overall fitness levels and helped instil in his side a will to win every bit as fierce as his own.
Williamson's men won out when the teams last met in a showpiece ICC event in England by coming through a tense 2019 World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
And while both sides have shown they can win without their skippers, India triumphing in Australia without Kohli earlier this year, and New Zealand completing a series win over England last week in Williamson's absence, the two captains could yet have a major influence on the final.
Both teams have exceptional attacks, although New Zealand should have an edge in match fitness after all their leading quick got game time during their recent 1-0 win in a two-match series away to England.
All of India's likely bowlers in the final are in the top 20 of the ICC rankings, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leading the way at number two while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma form a pace trio who can all move the ball off a good length.
But in Tim Southee and Trent Boult, New Zealand have a proven new-ball combination with Boult's left-arm angle an all the more useful variation when allied to his late swing. Such are their resources that Matt Henry, who took six wickets at Edgbaston, could miss the showpiece match should both Southee and the towering Kyle Jamieson return.
India would appear to have the edged when it comes to spin, although New Zealand left-armer Ajaz Patel will be keen to impress against the country of his birth after edging Mitchell Santner out of the squad following an encouraging display against England at Edgbaston.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
The top nine Test teams were originally scheduled to play six series each over two years, with the top two making the showcase final. But after the Covid-19 pandemic halted the game last year, the governing International Cricket Council decided to rank teams based on percentage of points (PCT) earned from completed matches, instead of total points, to determine the finalists. India topped the WTC standings with 72.2 PCT after collecting 520 points. New Zealand were second at 70 PCT with 420, pipping England, who collected more points (442) but had a lower PCT (61.4).
PRIZE MONEY
Winner: $1.6 million
Runner-up: $800,000
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