Kohli insists that New Zealand don’t enjoy the edge ahead of WTC final just because they play England in a two-Test series before big game at Southampton
Virat Kohli. Pic/AFP
The Indian team head to Southampton for the World Test Championship final (June 18 to 22) with odds slightly stacked in New Zealand’s favour.
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The Kiwis are already in England for the two-Test series against Joe Root’s men, whereas India will touch down in London today before heading straight to the WTC final venue where they will be in ‘managed quarantine’ at the Ageas Bowl.
While Kane Williamson’s men will get quality match practice against England, Virat Kohli’s men will have to be content with net sessions.
However, overcoming the odds has been the hallmark of this Indian team. Given the tough qualification scenario they had before them, India toppled Australia in their backyard for the second consecutive time and then beat England 3-1 at home to take the top spot in the WTC points table.
“Conditions are as potent for New Zealand as they are to us. Australian conditions should have favoured Australia, but we beat them twice [2018-19 and 2020-21]. If you want us to board the flight from here feeling New Zealand have got the edge, then there is no point taking that flight. Whichever team perform well, session by session, are going to win the final,” Kohli told reporters during a virtual press conference, hours before leaving Indian shores on Wednesday.
“In the past, we have landed in places three days prior in a proper schedule and have had a hell of a series and competition.
‘It’s all in the head’
“I think it’s all in the head. It’s not the first time we are playing in England. We have all played there. Even if you are used to the conditions, if you don’t enter the field in the right frame of mind, you are going to nick that first ball or will find it difficult to pick wickets. We don’t have any issues even with having just four practice sessions and heading into the game because we are absolutely sure what we can do as a team,” he added.
In the two-year WTC cycle which started in August 2019, India lost just four Tests out of 17 and the two defeats came against New Zealand. Williamson’s team were also the one that ended India’s campaign in the 2019 ICC World Cup semi-final at Manchester. India’s Test record in England is not so great either, having won just two Test matches since 2014.
Does the team look at winning in England as the final frontier? “I don’t think there is any frontier as such for us. If you look at our transition, it has been very smooth because we all are very committed to keeping Indian cricket on top and being the best team in the world. You see youngsters coming in, so there is another transition going on within the team. It is an ongoing process to keep the standards of Indian cricket high. We have done our duty for the last five to six years with absolute commitment. Now, the transition phase is on where our responsibility is to instill the same passion and commitment in the next lot of players so that we remain on top for more years to come.
‘Worked hard for the final’
“We have worked hard for the final. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that we will be the first team to be featuring in that final because of the way we have played Test cricket in the last few years. It’s like football, if you win one Champions League, you don’t stop working hard. You want to win two and three and four. So, this is exactly our mindset, if you have made it to the final, we absolutely want to win it. And then on to the next…restructure, plan and move ahead and win the next final,” he said.
Also Read: WTC Final: 'No one would be scared of Kane Williamson alone,' says Parthiv Patel
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