The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). While players are being trolled on social media, questions have been raised about the team's intent and body language in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Kiwis.

Asked to bat first in the must-win game, India got off to a stuttering start as they lost opener Ishan Kishan (3) cheaply before KL Rahul (18) and Rohit Sharma (14) also departed in quick succession. Captain Kohli too had an off day as he could only manage 9 runs off 17 balls before being sent back.

Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) then combined to take India to 110/7 in 20 overs. However, the low-key total proved a cakewalk for New Zealand as they chased it down within 14.3 overs to register a comprehensive win by eight wickets and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the tournament.

The Indian players have been facing intense criticism and are also being trolled for their poor show. Some have yet again crossed the limits on social media and have resorted to abusing the players and their families, blaming them for the team's loss.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has shared a heartwarming post for the Indian team, extending his support to the Indian players in a time of crisis. Amir said India still is one of the best teams and it is a matter of time while condemning the attack on players and their families.

"I still believe India is a best team its just a matter&nbsp;of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket," Amir said in a tweet.

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I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamamirofficial/status/1455039529350541312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/54-dot-balls-71-deliveries-without-a-boundary-shocking-stats-numbers-from-indias-flop-show-against-nz-425787">&nbsp;54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats &amp; numbers from India's flop show against NZ</a>

India's chances of making it to the top four have gone for a toss after back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches respectively. The Kohli-led side will be determined to bounce back and win their next three matches by big margins to stand an outside chance of qualifying while their fate depends on the results of other teams as well. 
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The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

The Indian cricket team is facing criticism and bashing from all corners after facing a shambolic eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). While players are being trolled on social media, questions have been raised about the team's intent and body language in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Kiwis. Asked to bat first in the must-win game, India got off to a stuttering start as they lost opener Ishan Kishan (3) cheaply before KL Rahul (18) and Rohit Sharma (14) also departed in quick succession. Captain Kohli too had an off day as he could only manage 9 runs off 17 balls before being sent back. Hardik Pandya (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) then combined to take India to 110/7 in 20 overs. However, the low-key total proved a cakewalk for New Zealand as they chased it down within 14.3 overs to register a comprehensive win by eight wickets and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the tournament. The Indian players have been facing intense criticism and are also being trolled for their poor show. Some have yet again crossed the limits on social media and have resorted to abusing the players and their families, blaming them for the team's loss. Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has shared a heartwarming post for the Indian team, extending his support to the Indian players in a time of crisis. Amir said India still is one of the best teams and it is a matter of time while condemning the attack on players and their families. "I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket," Amir said in a tweet. I still believe India is a best team its just a matter of having good time or bad time but abusing player's and their family is such a shame don't forget end of the day it's just a game of cricket. — Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) November 1, 2021 × Also Read: 54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show against NZ India's chances of making it to the top four have gone for a toss after back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two matches respectively. The Kohli-led side will be determined to bounce back and win their next three matches by big margins to stand an outside chance of qualifying while their fate depends on the results of other teams as well.

'Still believe India is best team': Pakistan pacer shares heartwarming post for Kohli & Co. after NZ defeat

Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31). India have now lost their first two matches in the Super 12 in a row and are yet to open their win account at the showpiece event.

The Men in Blue suffered a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening game before going down against the Kiwis in the next encounter. The defeat against New Zealand has pushed India to the brink of elimination from the tournament.

In the aftermath of Kohli-led India's defeat, an old tweet of the Indian captain is going viral on social media. The tweet dates back to January 2011 where Kohli had expressed his disappointment over a loss and said he was going home. The tweet has been doing the rounds on social media ever since India's 8-wicket loss against New Zealand on Sunday.

&nbsp;“Sad for the loss&nbsp;going home now," Kohli had tweeted.

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Sad for the loss :( going home now
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/29224697400922112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2011</a></blockquote>
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Asked to bat first, Indis got off to a shaky start against New Zealand as Ishan Kishan replaced Rohit Sharma to open the innings with KL Rahul. The move didn't work for India as Kishan was dismissed after scoring only 4 runs off 8 balls.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/54-dot-balls-71-deliveries-without-a-boundary-shocking-stats-numbers-from-indias-flop-show-against-nz-425787">54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats &amp; numbers from India's flop show vs NZ</a>

Rohit then came out to bat at no.3 and was dropped on the very first ball. The Hitman too couldn't make an impact and was sent back cheaply after scoring 14 off 14 balls. The likes of KL Rahul (18) and skipper Kohli (9) were also dismissed cheaply as India could only manage to post 110 runs on the board in 20 overs.

New Zealand chased down the paltry target of 111 runs inside 14.3 overs to register a comfortable victory by eight wickets and grab their first win in the tournament. India, on the other hand, are winless after their first two games and will need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals.

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Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31).

Virat Kohli-led India's chances of making it to the top four look bleak in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 after their eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (October 31). India have now lost their first two matches in the Super 12 in a row and are yet to open their win account at the showpiece event. The Men in Blue suffered a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening game before going down against the Kiwis in the next encounter. The defeat against New Zealand has pushed India to the brink of elimination from the tournament. In the aftermath of Kohli-led India's defeat, an old tweet of the Indian captain is going viral on social media. The tweet dates back to January 2011 where Kohli had expressed his disappointment over a loss and said he was going home. The tweet has been doing the rounds on social media ever since India's 8-wicket loss against New Zealand on Sunday. “Sad for the loss going home now," Kohli had tweeted. Sad for the loss :( going home now — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 23, 2011 × Asked to bat first, Indis got off to a shaky start against New Zealand as Ishan Kishan replaced Rohit Sharma to open the innings with KL Rahul. The move didn't work for India as Kishan was dismissed after scoring only 4 runs off 8 balls. Also Read: 54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show vs NZ Rohit then came out to bat at no.3 and was dropped on the very first ball. The Hitman too couldn't make an impact and was sent back cheaply after scoring 14 off 14 balls. The likes of KL Rahul (18) and skipper Kohli (9) were also dismissed cheaply as India could only manage to post 110 runs on the board in 20 overs. New Zealand chased down the paltry target of 111 runs inside 14.3 overs to register a comfortable victory by eight wickets and grab their first win in the tournament. India, on the other hand, are winless after their first two games and will need a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals.

'Going home now’ – Virat Kohli’s old tweet goes viral after NZ thrash India in T20 World Cup 2021

India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener. However, Kohli &amp; Co. once again failed to turn up in a high-octane clash and were completely outclassed by the Kiwis at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

In what was another disappointing night for the Indian batsmen, a top-order collapse saw the Kohli-led side get restricted cheaply for a paltry 110 runs. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably inside 14.3 overs with eight wickets to spare to register their first win in the tournament and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021.

It was a shambolic performance by the Indian batters as none of them managed to take on the Kiwi bowling attack and step up under pressure for the team. The Indians failed to accelerate throughout the innings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to let New Zealand bowlers dominate the proceedings in Dubai.

India played a staggering 54 dot balls which are equivalent to as many as nine overs in the game. The Men in Blue also went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. There were some more shocking stats and numbers that came out of the Indian innings and are a reflection of the shambolic batting performance.

<h2>Shocking stats and numbers from India's loss against New Zealand:</h2>

1) India played a staggering 54 dot balls equivalent to as many as nine overs during their innings against New Zealand in Dubai&nbsp;

2) India went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. Their last boundary had come on the first ball of the sixth over before Hardik Pandya brought an end to the boundary draught on the final ball of the 17th over

3) India's total of 110/7 was their lowest-ever batting first in a T20 World Cup match with their previous lowest being 130/4 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup final.

4)&nbsp;India failed to attack New Zealand spinners at all. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner bowled 8 overs combined without conceding a single boundary.

5)&nbsp;India managed to score only 35/2 in the Powerplay, which is the third-highest score in the Powerplay in this year's T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

6) India&nbsp;managed only eight fours and two sixes throughout their innings.

7) Only two Indian batters - Ravindra Jadeja (26) and Hardik Pandya (23) managed to cross the 20-run mark during their innings.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-rohit-bat-at-3-shoaib-akhtar-questions-indias-game-plan-says-it-was-a-lost-squad-against-nz-425758">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-rohit-bat-at-3-shoaib-akhtar-questions-indias-game-plan-says-it-was-a-lost-squad-against-nz-425758">'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ</a>

India are now all but out of the race for the top four but still, stand an outside chance of making it to the next round if they can win their remaining three matches by big margins. The Kohli-led side will also need the results of other teams to go in their favour to make it to the top four. India will take on Afghanistan next in their 3rd Super 12 game on Wednesday (November 03).

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India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener.

India endured yet another woeful defeat as they went down by eight wickets against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). A lot was expected from the Virat Kohli-led side after their crushing ten-wicket loss against Pakistan in the opener. However, Kohli & Co. once again failed to turn up in a high-octane clash and were completely outclassed by the Kiwis at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. In what was another disappointing night for the Indian batsmen, a top-order collapse saw the Kohli-led side get restricted cheaply for a paltry 110 runs. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably inside 14.3 overs with eight wickets to spare to register their first win in the tournament and push India on the brink of an early elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021. It was a shambolic performance by the Indian batters as none of them managed to take on the Kiwi bowling attack and step up under pressure for the team. The Indians failed to accelerate throughout the innings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to let New Zealand bowlers dominate the proceedings in Dubai. India played a staggering 54 dot balls which are equivalent to as many as nine overs in the game. The Men in Blue also went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. There were some more shocking stats and numbers that came out of the Indian innings and are a reflection of the shambolic batting performance. Shocking stats and numbers from India's loss against New Zealand: 1) India played a staggering 54 dot balls equivalent to as many as nine overs during their innings against New Zealand in Dubai 2) India went without a boundary for 71 balls during their innings. Their last boundary had come on the first ball of the sixth over before Hardik Pandya brought an end to the boundary draught on the final ball of the 17th over 3) India's total of 110/7 was their lowest-ever batting first in a T20 World Cup match with their previous lowest being 130/4 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup final. 4) India failed to attack New Zealand spinners at all. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner bowled 8 overs combined without conceding a single boundary. 5) India managed to score only 35/2 in the Powerplay, which is the third-highest score in the Powerplay in this year's T20 World Cup. 6) India managed only eight fours and two sixes throughout their innings. 7) Only two Indian batters - Ravindra Jadeja (26) and Hardik Pandya (23) managed to cross the 20-run mark during their innings. Also Read: 'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ India are now all but out of the race for the top four but still, stand an outside chance of making it to the next round if they can win their remaining three matches by big margins. The Kohli-led side will also need the results of other teams to go in their favour to make it to the top four. India will take on Afghanistan next in their 3rd Super 12 game on Wednesday (November 03).

54 dot balls, 71 deliveries without a boundary: Shocking stats & numbers from India's flop show against NZ

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli &amp; Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India's batting line-up was left exposed once again while the bowlers failed to deliver as a unit.

After a humiliating ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their opening game of the Super 12, India were expected to dish out a better performance against New Zealand but were completely outclassed by the Kiwis. Invited to bat first, India could only manage a paltry 110 runs on the board in their quota of 20 overs after the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli failed to deliver.

The move to promote Ishan Kishan as an opener and demote Rohit at no. 3 raised many eyebrows and was questioned by many including Akhtar, who said he didn't know what mindset and attitude were India playing with against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.&nbsp;

After restricting India on 110 runs, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 14.3 overs and registered their first win in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel while analysing India's loss, Akhtar questioned India's game plan and the decisions to open with Ishan and bowling Hardik Pandya last in the game among others.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-for-serious-introspection-virender-sehwag-disappointed-as-nz-virtually-knock-india-out-of-t20-wc-2021-425745">Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021</a>

"I don't know with what mindset and attitude they were playing. Why did Rohit bat at 3, why did they open with Ishan Kishan? Hardik Pandya, bowling pretty late in the innings, should've bowled earlier. I have no idea whatsoever about India's gameplan. It was a completely lost Indian squad," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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"It never seemed as if India turned up for this game or not. Average performance by team India. After all the hype and pressure from the Indian media, I knew that the team would struggle. Again, the team proved to be a weak bowling side," the former Pakistan pacer added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-lack-mental-toughness-for-big-matches-gautam-gambhir-slams-virat-kohli-co-after-nz-debacle-425752">India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli &amp; Co. after NZ debacle</a>

While the defeat has done significant damage to India's hope for finishing in the top four, they still stand a outside chance depending on the results of the other teams if they can manage to win their remaining three matches by big margins. India will next face Afghanistan on Wednesday (November 03).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli & Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised India's game plan against New Zealand as he was left disappointed by Virat Kohli & Co.'s timid show in their 8-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India's batting line-up was left exposed once again while the bowlers failed to deliver as a unit. After a humiliating ten-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their opening game of the Super 12, India were expected to dish out a better performance against New Zealand but were completely outclassed by the Kiwis. Invited to bat first, India could only manage a paltry 110 runs on the board in their quota of 20 overs after the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli failed to deliver. The move to promote Ishan Kishan as an opener and demote Rohit at no. 3 raised many eyebrows and was questioned by many including Akhtar, who said he didn't know what mindset and attitude were India playing with against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. After restricting India on 110 runs, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 14.3 overs and registered their first win in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel while analysing India's loss, Akhtar questioned India's game plan and the decisions to open with Ishan and bowling Hardik Pandya last in the game among others. Also Read: Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021 "I don't know with what mindset and attitude they were playing. Why did Rohit bat at 3, why did they open with Ishan Kishan? Hardik Pandya, bowling pretty late in the innings, should've bowled earlier. I have no idea whatsoever about India's gameplan. It was a completely lost Indian squad," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel. × "It never seemed as if India turned up for this game or not. Average performance by team India. After all the hype and pressure from the Indian media, I knew that the team would struggle. Again, the team proved to be a weak bowling side," the former Pakistan pacer added. Also Read: India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli & Co. after NZ debacle While the defeat has done significant damage to India's hope for finishing in the top four, they still stand a outside chance depending on the results of the other teams if they can manage to win their remaining three matches by big margins. India will next face Afghanistan on Wednesday (November 03).

'Why did Rohit bat at 3?': Shoaib Akhtar questions India's game plan, says it was a lost squad against NZ

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). Gambhir feels Virat Kohli's team doesn't have the mental toughness to win big games and tournaments after they succumbed to their second successive defeat in two games at the T20 World Cup 2021.

India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and were expected to bounce back to winning way and keep their playoffs hopes intact against New Zealand. However, the Men in blue suffered yet another batting collapse as they could only manage 110 runs in 20 overs, batting first in Dubai.

New Zealand chased down the target inside 14.3 overs while losing just two wickets to register a comprehensive victory and bag their first win in the tournament. The loss has heavily damaged India's chances of making it to the top four as the Kohli-led side will need a miracle from here to qualify for the knockout stage.

Kohli &amp; Co. will have to win their remaining three matches by big margins to ensure they stand a chance of making it to the top four depending on other results too. Talking about India's woeful performance, Gambhir said the current Indian team has the skills but lacks the mental toughness that is required to win a big game.

"Yes talent is one thing, you've got all the skills and do really well in bilaterals and stuff. But when it comes to these kind of games and tournaments, this is when you have got to stand up and perform," said Gambhir on ESPN Cricinfo.

"This game was literally like a quarterfinal. The problem is with the mental toughness of the side. Suddenly when you know you have got to win the game and can't make mistakes, in bilaterals it's different because you can make mistakes there. But in these kind of games, I don't think India has got that mental strength," he added.

India have three matches remaining in the competition and another loss will confirm their early exit from the competition. The Men in Blue will have to win their remaining matches by handsome margins to ensure their net run rate can be improved and they stand a chance at qualifying.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-for-serious-introspection-virender-sehwag-disappointed-as-nz-virtually-knock-india-out-of-t20-wc-2021-425745">Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021</a>

This was India's 5th successive defeat against New Zealand in an ICC tournament and third in a row in the T20 World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event since 2003 and Gambhir feels India currently don't have the pedigree to turn up in major ICC tournaments.

"They have the skill and are a very dangerous side. But unfortunately, we can keep talking about it that we need to stand by our team when its not doing well but it's been a trend and its been happening for a very long time in most of these ICC tournaments, whether its the semifinals or the game today as well. When it mattered the most for someone to put his hand up, they just couldn't," Gambhir explained.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed Team India after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in a must-win game against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). Gambhir feels Virat Kohli's team doesn't have the mental toughness to win big games and tournaments after they succumbed to their second successive defeat in two games at the T20 World Cup 2021. India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and were expected to bounce back to winning way and keep their playoffs hopes intact against New Zealand. However, the Men in blue suffered yet another batting collapse as they could only manage 110 runs in 20 overs, batting first in Dubai. New Zealand chased down the target inside 14.3 overs while losing just two wickets to register a comprehensive victory and bag their first win in the tournament. The loss has heavily damaged India's chances of making it to the top four as the Kohli-led side will need a miracle from here to qualify for the knockout stage. Kohli & Co. will have to win their remaining three matches by big margins to ensure they stand a chance of making it to the top four depending on other results too. Talking about India's woeful performance, Gambhir said the current Indian team has the skills but lacks the mental toughness that is required to win a big game. "Yes talent is one thing, you've got all the skills and do really well in bilaterals and stuff. But when it comes to these kind of games and tournaments, this is when you have got to stand up and perform," said Gambhir on ESPN Cricinfo. "This game was literally like a quarterfinal. The problem is with the mental toughness of the side. Suddenly when you know you have got to win the game and can't make mistakes, in bilaterals it's different because you can make mistakes there. But in these kind of games, I don't think India has got that mental strength," he added. India have three matches remaining in the competition and another loss will confirm their early exit from the competition. The Men in Blue will have to win their remaining matches by handsome margins to ensure their net run rate can be improved and they stand a chance at qualifying. Also Read: Time for serious introspection: Sehwag disappointed as NZ virtually knock India out of T20 WC 2021 This was India's 5th successive defeat against New Zealand in an ICC tournament and third in a row in the T20 World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event since 2003 and Gambhir feels India currently don't have the pedigree to turn up in major ICC tournaments. "They have the skill and are a very dangerous side. But unfortunately, we can keep talking about it that we need to stand by our team when its not doing well but it's been a trend and its been happening for a very long time in most of these ICC tournaments, whether its the semifinals or the game today as well. When it mattered the most for someone to put his hand up, they just couldn't," Gambhir explained.

India lack mental toughness for big matches: Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli & Co. after NZ debacle

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week. The all-important clash is a must-win for Team India and will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

New Zealand too have had a similar&nbsp;start to the tournament as India. The Kane Williamson-led side also faced a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening encounter and will be hopeful of returning to winning ways. Both India and New Zealand have played one game each so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and are yet to open their win account.

Indian skipper Kohli confirmed all-rounder Hardik Pandya is fit and available to play. Pandya, who didn't bowl in the Pakistan game, was seen bowling in the nets ahead of the New Zealand encounter and it remains to be seen if will roll his arms in the game.

Many had questioned Hardik's spot in the playing XI owing to his poor fitness and lack of bowling, however, India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI against New Zealand. Shardul Thakur might have to wait for his chance as senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also likely to retain his spot in the XI.

New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, who was injured while batting during the Pakistan game, has recovered and has been declared fit to take the field against India. It is expected to be a cracker of a contest between the two sides in Dubai on Sunday.

India have so far played two T20Is against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup and have finished on the losing side on both occasions. However, when it comes to the overall head-to-head record between the two sides in T20Is, India and New Zealand have both managed eight wins each in a total of 16 games between them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-responds-after-trent-boult-says-he-will-look-to-emulate-shaheen-afridis-heroics-against-india-425336">Virat Kohli responds after Trent Boult says he will look to emulate Shaheen Afridi's heroics against India</a>

India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 prediction:

Team India head into the New Zealand clash as wounded tigers after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan by a huge margin. The Men in Blue will be eager to put out a statement with a comprehensive win and are likely to come out on top against New Zealand on Sunday.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in their second Super 12 clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). The Virat Kohli-led side will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a crushing ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener last week. The all-important clash is a must-win for Team India and will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. New Zealand too have had a similar start to the tournament as India. The Kane Williamson-led side also faced a defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their opening encounter and will be hopeful of returning to winning ways. Both India and New Zealand have played one game each so far in the T20 World Cup 2021 and are yet to open their win account. Indian skipper Kohli confirmed all-rounder Hardik Pandya is fit and available to play. Pandya, who didn't bowl in the Pakistan game, was seen bowling in the nets ahead of the New Zealand encounter and it remains to be seen if will roll his arms in the game. Many had questioned Hardik's spot in the playing XI owing to his poor fitness and lack of bowling, however, India are unlikely to drop him from the playing XI against New Zealand. Shardul Thakur might have to wait for his chance as senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also likely to retain his spot in the XI. New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, who was injured while batting during the Pakistan game, has recovered and has been declared fit to take the field against India. It is expected to be a cracker of a contest between the two sides in Dubai on Sunday. India have so far played two T20Is against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup and have finished on the losing side on both occasions. However, when it comes to the overall head-to-head record between the two sides in T20Is, India and New Zealand have both managed eight wins each in a total of 16 games between them. Also Read: Virat Kohli responds after Trent Boult says he will look to emulate Shaheen Afridi's heroics against India India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Team India head into the New Zealand clash as wounded tigers after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan by a huge margin. The Men in Blue will be eager to put out a statement with a comprehensive win and are likely to come out on top against New Zealand on Sunday.

IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's match between India and New Zealand?

India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening clash against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and are currently languishing at the fifth spot on the points table.

New Zealand are also heading into the game on the back of a defeat in their opening game against Pakistan and will be looking to bounce back. Both teams are yet to open their win account in the tournament and Sunday's clash in Dubai will be an important one for them as they look to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four.

India have not won a T20 World Cup game against New Zealand so far. The Men in Blue have ended up on the losing side in both the meetings between the two sides in the T20 World Cup so far. New Zealand have dominated the proceedings against India overall in ICC events as well, having last lost to them in the 2003 ODI World Cup.

India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event in 18 years since 2003 and will be hoping to bring an end to the losing streak on Sunday. Ahead of the all-important game, here is all you need to know about the India-New Zealand clash in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Predicted playing XIs&nbsp;

New Zealand:&nbsp;Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), James Neesham, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Head-to-head

India might have lost both their matches against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup so far, but the Men in Blue have an even record when it comes to facing the Black Caps in T20Is. Both India and New Zealand have eight wins each in a total of 16 T20Is between them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/winless-in-18-years-can-virat-kohli-led-india-break-the-jinx-against-new-zealand-in-icc-events-425532">Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events</a>

Pitch report

While spinners haven't had much help from the Dubai track, the Afghanistan duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had troubled the Pakistani batsmen in their previous clash which was played in Dubai. With the dew factor coming in, the majority of teams have bowled first at the venue and have won chasing a total. Expect the winner of the toss to bowl first once again on Sunday.

Prediction

New Zealand might not have lost against India in a T20 World Cup game so far but on Sunday, the streak can be buried by Virat Kohli and his men, who will be eager to prove their critics wrong after the defeat against Pakistan. India know the game is a must-win one for them to keep their chances of making it to the top four alive and will look to give their all against the Kiwis.

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India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31).

India will be eager to return to winning ways and improve their rankings on the Group 2 points table when they lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 encounter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening clash against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets and are currently languishing at the fifth spot on the points table. New Zealand are also heading into the game on the back of a defeat in their opening game against Pakistan and will be looking to bounce back. Both teams are yet to open their win account in the tournament and Sunday's clash in Dubai will be an important one for them as they look to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four. India have not won a T20 World Cup game against New Zealand so far. The Men in Blue have ended up on the losing side in both the meetings between the two sides in the T20 World Cup so far. New Zealand have dominated the proceedings against India overall in ICC events as well, having last lost to them in the 2003 ODI World Cup. India have not won a game against New Zealand in an ICC event in 18 years since 2003 and will be hoping to bring an end to the losing streak on Sunday. Ahead of the all-important game, here is all you need to know about the India-New Zealand clash in the T20 World Cup 2021. Predicted playing XIs New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), James Neesham, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah Head-to-head India might have lost both their matches against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup so far, but the Men in Blue have an even record when it comes to facing the Black Caps in T20Is. Both India and New Zealand have eight wins each in a total of 16 T20Is between them. Also Read: Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events Pitch report While spinners haven't had much help from the Dubai track, the Afghanistan duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had troubled the Pakistani batsmen in their previous clash which was played in Dubai. With the dew factor coming in, the majority of teams have bowled first at the venue and have won chasing a total. Expect the winner of the toss to bowl first once again on Sunday. Prediction New Zealand might not have lost against India in a T20 World Cup game so far but on Sunday, the streak can be buried by Virat Kohli and his men, who will be eager to prove their critics wrong after the defeat against Pakistan. India know the game is a must-win one for them to keep their chances of making it to the top four alive and will look to give their all against the Kiwis.

India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2021: Likely playing XIs, head-to-head, pitch report & prediction

Match 28 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Virat Kohli-led India (IND) take on the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand (NZ) on Sunday (October 31). The game will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

This will be the second match for both the teams in the Super-12 stage. Both India and New Zealand were thrashed by Pakistan in their respective opening matches.

This match will be crucial for both teams as this will bolster their chances of securing a semi-final position.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/winless-in-18-years-can-virat-kohli-led-india-break-the-jinx-against-new-zealand-in-icc-events-425532">Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events?</a>

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: 

Where is the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand taking place? 

The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

What time does the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand begin? 

The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand begins at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-to-replace-hardik-pandya-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-new-zealand-clash-in-t20-wc-2021-425502">Shardul to replace Hardik? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021</a>

Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand? 

The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IND vs NZ will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

Match 28 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Virat Kohli-led India (IND) take on the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand (NZ) on Sunday (October 31). The game will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Match 28 of the T20 World Cup edition will see the Virat Kohli-led India (IND) take on the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand (NZ) on Sunday (October 31). The game will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. This will be the second match for both the teams in the Super-12 stage. Both India and New Zealand were thrashed by Pakistan in their respective opening matches. This match will be crucial for both teams as this will bolster their chances of securing a semi-final position. Also Read: Winless in 18 years! Can Virat Kohli-led India break the jinx against New Zealand in ICC events? Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand taking place? The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. What time does the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand begin? The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand begins at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday. Also Read: Shardul to replace Hardik? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021 Where and how to watch live coverage of the T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand? The T20 World Cup match between India vs New Zealand will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the T20 World Cup match between IND vs NZ will be available on Hotstar. The T20 World Cup matches will be shown on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD, and DD Sports.

T20 World Cup, IND vs NZ live streaming: When and where to watch India vs New Zealand match?

India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat.

A loss against New Zealand can prove fatal to India's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. The Virat Kohli-led side will have their task cut out against New Zealand, who have never lost against India in a T20 World Cup match so far. New Zealand have won on both meetings against the Men in Blue in the history of the T20 World Cup.

India will be looking to field the best possible playing XI in the game which is being labelled as the 'virtual quarterfinal'. While India started their campaign with a defeat against Pakistan, New Zealand too suffered the same fate and lost their opening game against the Babar Azam-led side by five wickets.

India will be hoping to get the combination right this time around after the bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in the game against Pakistan. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami all went wicket-less as Pakistan chased down 152 runs with all ten wickets remaining.

Many have called for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the squad in place of an out-of-form Hardik Pandya, who has struggled with the bat&nbsp;and has not bowled yet. Pandya has not been bowling due to back issues but was seen having a go with the ball in the nets a few days back. He might bowl a couple of over against the Kiwis if asked to do so.

Shardul is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 where he picked up 21 wickets, however, he is unlikely to make the cut as the team management is reportedly keen on having Pandya as a finisher in the team. There were also reports that Shardul could have replaced senior pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has been struggling with his form too.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-unlikely-to-replace-hardik-pandya-as-india-keen-on-following-dhonis-csk-template-in-t20-wc-425239">Shardul unlikely to replace Hardik as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC</a>

However, the team management is expected to repose their trust in Bhuvneshwar for the New Zealand game and expect the senior pace to produce a better show on Sunday. India are likely to field&nbsp;the same XI which played against Pakistan, for the game against New Zealand. In case the team wants, they might play an extra spinner in form of R Ashwin or Rahul Chahar in place of a fast bowler.

India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 World Cup 2021:

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

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India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat.

India will lock horns with New Zealand in a must-win Super 12 clash at the T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday (October 31). India lost their opening game against arch-rivals Pakistan by ten wickets which has done significant damage to their chances of making it to the top four as their net run rate has gone for a toss after the massive defeat. A loss against New Zealand can prove fatal to India's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. The Virat Kohli-led side will have their task cut out against New Zealand, who have never lost against India in a T20 World Cup match so far. New Zealand have won on both meetings against the Men in Blue in the history of the T20 World Cup. India will be looking to field the best possible playing XI in the game which is being labelled as the 'virtual quarterfinal'. While India started their campaign with a defeat against Pakistan, New Zealand too suffered the same fate and lost their opening game against the Babar Azam-led side by five wickets. India will be hoping to get the combination right this time around after the bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in the game against Pakistan. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami all went wicket-less as Pakistan chased down 152 runs with all ten wickets remaining. Many have called for the inclusion of Shardul Thakur in the squad in place of an out-of-form Hardik Pandya, who has struggled with the bat and has not bowled yet. Pandya has not been bowling due to back issues but was seen having a go with the ball in the nets a few days back. He might bowl a couple of over against the Kiwis if asked to do so. Shardul is coming off a great season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 where he picked up 21 wickets, however, he is unlikely to make the cut as the team management is reportedly keen on having Pandya as a finisher in the team. There were also reports that Shardul could have replaced senior pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has been struggling with his form too. Also Read: Shardul unlikely to replace Hardik as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC However, the team management is expected to repose their trust in Bhuvneshwar for the New Zealand game and expect the senior pace to produce a better show on Sunday. India are likely to field the same XI which played against Pakistan, for the game against New Zealand. In case the team wants, they might play an extra spinner in form of R Ashwin or Rahul Chahar in place of a fast bowler. India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 World Cup 2021: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

Shardul Thakur to replace Hardik Pandya? India's predicted playing XI for New Zealand clash in T20 WC 2021

India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition. India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter to make the worst possible start to the tournament.

The Men in Blue will have to bounce back to winning ways in the must-win clash against New Zealand on Sunday (October 31) as a loss can all but end their campaign in the showpiece event. The ten-wicket loss against Pakistan has done massive damage to India's chances of qualifying for the top four as the game against New Zealand is touted to be a 'virtual quarterfinal'.

Ahead of the all-important contest, here we take a look at India's record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

New Zealand 2-0 India in T20 World Cup:

India and New Zealand have faced each other twice in the ICC T20 World Cup so far and the Black Caps have emerged victorious on both occasions. The Kiwis are unbeaten against India when it comes to the T20 World Cup and will be looking to keep their stellar record intact on Sunday.

India vs New Zealand, 2007 T20 World Cup

The first meeting between India and New Zealand in a T20 World Cup game was in 2007 when MS Dhoni &amp; Co. lost by ten runs in the group-stage clash. It was India's only defeat in the entire tournament as they went on to win the title after beating Pakistan in a thrilling final.

Batting first, New Zealand rode on Brendon McCullum's 31-ball 45 and cameos from Craig McMillan (44 off 23), Jacob Oram (35 of 15) to post 190 runs on the board. In reply, India came close but fell short at the end as they could only manage 180/9 in 20 overs to lose the game by ten runs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shardul-thakur-unlikely-to-replace-hardik-pandya-as-india-keen-on-following-dhonis-csk-template-in-t20-wc-425239">Shardul Thakur unlikely to replace Hardik Pandya as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC</a>

India vs New Zealand, 2016 T20 Wolrd Cup

India and New Zealand met for the second time in a T20 World Cup game in 2016. New Zealand once again defeated the Men in Blue by 47 runs to make it 2-0. The game was played in Nagpur where the Kiwi bowlers ran riot against India.

Batting first, New Zealand could only manage a low-key total of 126 runs in 20 overs with the help of Corey Anderson's 34 and Luke Ronchi's 21. India were favourites heading into the run-chase but the Kiwi pacers bundled out the hosts for a paltry 79 to register a comprehensive win by 47 runs in the low-scoring game.

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India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition.

India have had a disastrous start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 as they find themselves languishing at the fifth spot on the Group 2 points table in the Super 12 stage of the competition. India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter to make the worst possible start to the tournament. The Men in Blue will have to bounce back to winning ways in the must-win clash against New Zealand on Sunday (October 31) as a loss can all but end their campaign in the showpiece event. The ten-wicket loss against Pakistan has done massive damage to India's chances of qualifying for the top four as the game against New Zealand is touted to be a 'virtual quarterfinal'. Ahead of the all-important contest, here we take a look at India's record against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. New Zealand 2-0 India in T20 World Cup: India and New Zealand have faced each other twice in the ICC T20 World Cup so far and the Black Caps have emerged victorious on both occasions. The Kiwis are unbeaten against India when it comes to the T20 World Cup and will be looking to keep their stellar record intact on Sunday. India vs New Zealand, 2007 T20 World Cup The first meeting between India and New Zealand in a T20 World Cup game was in 2007 when MS Dhoni & Co. lost by ten runs in the group-stage clash. It was India's only defeat in the entire tournament as they went on to win the title after beating Pakistan in a thrilling final. Batting first, New Zealand rode on Brendon McCullum's 31-ball 45 and cameos from Craig McMillan (44 off 23), Jacob Oram (35 of 15) to post 190 runs on the board. In reply, India came close but fell short at the end as they could only manage 180/9 in 20 overs to lose the game by ten runs. Also Read: Shardul Thakur unlikely to replace Hardik Pandya as India keen on following Dhoni's 'CSK template' in T20 WC India vs New Zealand, 2016 T20 Wolrd Cup India and New Zealand met for the second time in a T20 World Cup game in 2016. New Zealand once again defeated the Men in Blue by 47 runs to make it 2-0. The game was played in Nagpur where the Kiwi bowlers ran riot against India. Batting first, New Zealand could only manage a low-key total of 126 runs in 20 overs with the help of Corey Anderson's 34 and Luke Ronchi's 21. India were favourites heading into the run-chase but the Kiwi pacers bundled out the hosts for a paltry 79 to register a comprehensive win by 47 runs in the low-scoring game.

Will Virat Kohli & Co. break the jinx? A look at India's record against NZ in T20 WC ahead of must-win clash

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. The crushing loss led to massive criticism by fans and former cricketing stalwarts.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/an-absolute-disgrace-roger-binny-slams-team-indias-bowling-performance-in-wtc-final-393985" hreflang="en">'Absolute disgrace': Roger Binny slams India's bowling in WTC Final</a>

Indian skipper Virat Kohli failed to contribute to the teams in the clash against New Zealand. The Indian captain managed to score just 57 runs in both innings.&nbsp;

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar talked about how Kohli will approach his future and what will be his next target after the WTC final.

“He has already scored close to 7,500 test runs, and this is a format, where he just simply gives it his all. It's not that he doesn't value T20 or ODI cricket; he plays with equal intensity, but the job satisfaction that he derives – because this is the toughest format. And in modern times, because there are no dead rubbers, so every test match is valued, and every team is playing for a result. This means that whatever is on offer – from a batting perspective – is always challenging for the batsman,” Bangar said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

“So, to excel in each &amp; every test match, and obviously, to get over the drought of the three-figure – which may have been playing on his mind – I think this is something that he would look ahead to. The way he has batted in the first innings was a clear indication of the kind of touch and the kind of rhythm that he was in. So, I think it augurs well for the Indian team.”

The Men in Blue will now take on England in a five-match Test series that will kick off in August.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. The crushing loss led to massive criticism by fans and former cricketing stalwarts. ALSO READ: 'Absolute disgrace': Roger Binny slams India's bowling in WTC Final Indian skipper Virat Kohli failed to contribute to the teams in the clash against New Zealand. The Indian captain managed to score just 57 runs in both innings. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar talked about how Kohli will approach his future and what will be his next target after the WTC final. “He has already scored close to 7,500 test runs, and this is a format, where he just simply gives it his all. It's not that he doesn't value T20 or ODI cricket; he plays with equal intensity, but the job satisfaction that he derives – because this is the toughest format. And in modern times, because there are no dead rubbers, so every test match is valued, and every team is playing for a result. This means that whatever is on offer – from a batting perspective – is always challenging for the batsman,” Bangar said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected. “So, to excel in each & every test match, and obviously, to get over the drought of the three-figure – which may have been playing on his mind – I think this is something that he would look ahead to. The way he has batted in the first innings was a clear indication of the kind of touch and the kind of rhythm that he was in. So, I think it augurs well for the Indian team.” The Men in Blue will now take on England in a five-match Test series that will kick off in August.

'I think it augurs well for the Indian team': Sanjay Bangar on Virat Kohli's form

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-responsibility-was-required-irfan-pathan-on-rishabh-pants-knock-in-wtc-final-393944" hreflang="en">'Some responsibility was required': Irfan Pathan on Rishabh Pant's knock in WTC Final</a>

Team India's bowlers failed to dominate the Kiwi batsmen and failed to find much swing that could have troubled the New Zealand batsmen.&nbsp;

Mohammed Shami stood out from the Indian pack with four wickets, including breathtaking spells of bowling. Ishant capped it up with three while Ashwin ended up with two. Jasprit Bumrah’s off form would bother India a bit but one can expect a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre to go through it for long.

Former India all-rounder Roger Binny lashed out at Virat and Co.'s bowling attack and called it 'an absolute disgrace'.&nbsp;

"Watching the Indians bowl on Sunday (the third day of the Test), it was not the way to bowl in a Test in England. It was an absolute disgrace. What did the opposition do to you? What sort of a performance was this? They are playing a Test match," Binny was quoted as saying by News18.

"When you bowl, you bowl in the batsman’s half. You don’t bowl in your half. They have to play the shots. The shorter you bowl, the more the ball seams. You have to attack to take wickets, not bowl defensively," he added.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000. ALSO READ: 'Some responsibility was required': Irfan Pathan on Rishabh Pant's knock in WTC Final Team India's bowlers failed to dominate the Kiwi batsmen and failed to find much swing that could have troubled the New Zealand batsmen. Mohammed Shami stood out from the Indian pack with four wickets, including breathtaking spells of bowling. Ishant capped it up with three while Ashwin ended up with two. Jasprit Bumrah’s off form would bother India a bit but one can expect a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre to go through it for long. Former India all-rounder Roger Binny lashed out at Virat and Co.'s bowling attack and called it 'an absolute disgrace'. "Watching the Indians bowl on Sunday (the third day of the Test), it was not the way to bowl in a Test in England. It was an absolute disgrace. What did the opposition do to you? What sort of a performance was this? They are playing a Test match," Binny was quoted as saying by News18. "When you bowl, you bowl in the batsman’s half. You don’t bowl in your half. They have to play the shots. The shorter you bowl, the more the ball seams. You have to attack to take wickets, not bowl defensively," he added.

'An absolute disgrace': Roger Binny slams Team India's bowling performance in WTC Final

Rishabh Pant's knock in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand drew a lot of attention and several former cricketers reacted to his batting in the second innings.&nbsp;

Now, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has commented on Pant's knock.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-india-will-use-the-southampton-test-as-a-spur-to-greater-things-says-vvs-laxman-393855" hreflang="en">Cricket: India will use the Southampton Test as a spur to greater things, says VVS Laxman</a>

"I know Rishabh Pant plays very well in a destructive fashion. But destructive batting doesn't mean that you walk down the wicket to pace bowlers and try to hit them out of the ground. Some responsibility was required," Pathan said during a discussion on Star Sports.

Pant scored 41 off 88 balls with four boundaries, during his knock the southpaw was seen coming down the track to take on the seamers but missed many chances. He even gave his wicket away in a similar fashion off Trent Boult's delivery.&nbsp;

"If we talk about proper cricketing reasons where we went wrong in this match, it was even after the first innings. But after that, the second innings batting was extremely disappointing because the ball was not moving that much in the second innings. So, they could have batted more responsibly there."

"I also felt that when they were bowling the bouncers against the Indian batsmen, they were trying to play the pull shot instead of taking it on the body. It means there a slight shortage of commitment was also seen," noticed Pathan.

"They played a batsman short. I was saying this even before the Test match started but that is my thinking. Then we do not have a fast-bowling all-rounder like New Zealand have. Getting one in is also slightly difficult."

Rishabh Pant's knock in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand drew a lot of attention and several former cricketers reacted to his batting in the second innings.

Rishabh Pant's knock in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand drew a lot of attention and several former cricketers reacted to his batting in the second innings. Now, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has commented on Pant's knock. ALSO READ: Cricket: India will use the Southampton Test as a spur to greater things, says VVS Laxman "I know Rishabh Pant plays very well in a destructive fashion. But destructive batting doesn't mean that you walk down the wicket to pace bowlers and try to hit them out of the ground. Some responsibility was required," Pathan said during a discussion on Star Sports. Pant scored 41 off 88 balls with four boundaries, during his knock the southpaw was seen coming down the track to take on the seamers but missed many chances. He even gave his wicket away in a similar fashion off Trent Boult's delivery. "If we talk about proper cricketing reasons where we went wrong in this match, it was even after the first innings. But after that, the second innings batting was extremely disappointing because the ball was not moving that much in the second innings. So, they could have batted more responsibly there." "I also felt that when they were bowling the bouncers against the Indian batsmen, they were trying to play the pull shot instead of taking it on the body. It means there a slight shortage of commitment was also seen," noticed Pathan. "They played a batsman short. I was saying this even before the Test match started but that is my thinking. Then we do not have a fast-bowling all-rounder like New Zealand have. Getting one in is also slightly difficult."

'Some responsibility was required': Irfan Pathan on Rishabh Pant's knock in WTC Final

Jasprit Bumrah had a disappointing outing during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl. Team India's main pacer went wicketless in the match.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-india-will-use-the-southampton-test-as-a-spur-to-greater-things-says-vvs-laxman-393855" hreflang="en">India will use the Southampton Test as a spur to greater things: VVS Laxman</a>

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed his disappointment over Bumrah's figures in the ultimate Test. The Indian speedster was the only bowler in the match to go wicketless, however, he did get the better of Ross Taylor in the second innings but Pujara dropped a vital catch.&nbsp;

“Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler for India alongside Ishant Sharma. Ashwin supported really well, but to see no wickets from Jasprit Bumrah was disappointing and it was a big setback for the Indian team. Even though I don't think Bumrah bowled badly, somewhere I thought the wickets column eluded him,” Jaffer said in his latest YouTube video.&nbsp;

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Jaffer even talked about Team India's batting display in the second innings and said that he was really disappointed as they lacked intent and 170 was a below-par score.&nbsp;

"I was really disappointed by the way India batted in the second innings. They should have been a little bit more positive and should have showed more intent. Probably 40-50 runs would have saved the game or would have made the game more interesting had New Zealand gone on to chase the game with a bit more run-rate. I thought 170 was a below par score and the conditions of the first day probably played on their minds," Jaffer concluded.&nbsp;

Jasprit Bumrah had a disappointing outing during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl. Team India's main pacer went wicketless in the match.

Jasprit Bumrah had a disappointing outing during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl. Team India's main pacer went wicketless in the match. ALSO READ: India will use the Southampton Test as a spur to greater things: VVS Laxman Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed his disappointment over Bumrah's figures in the ultimate Test. The Indian speedster was the only bowler in the match to go wicketless, however, he did get the better of Ross Taylor in the second innings but Pujara dropped a vital catch. “Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler for India alongside Ishant Sharma. Ashwin supported really well, but to see no wickets from Jasprit Bumrah was disappointing and it was a big setback for the Indian team. Even though I don't think Bumrah bowled badly, somewhere I thought the wickets column eluded him,” Jaffer said in his latest YouTube video. × Jaffer even talked about Team India's batting display in the second innings and said that he was really disappointed as they lacked intent and 170 was a below-par score. "I was really disappointed by the way India batted in the second innings. They should have been a little bit more positive and should have showed more intent. Probably 40-50 runs would have saved the game or would have made the game more interesting had New Zealand gone on to chase the game with a bit more run-rate. I thought 170 was a below par score and the conditions of the first day probably played on their minds," Jaffer concluded.

'It was a big setback': Wasim Jaffer on Jasprit Bumrah going wicketless in WTC Final

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-defeat-india-by-8-wickets-to-win-icc-world-test-championship-393493" hreflang="en">New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship</a>

However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels that the Test format cannot be fully utilised through a one-off match, either it is a series or the final of the World Test Championship final.&nbsp;

"I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game. If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it," Kohli said after India's eight-wicket loss in Southampton to New Zealand.

Indian head coach Ravi Shastri pitched the idea of a three-match series. Several former India players also supported Shastri's idea. On the eve of the match, skipper Kohli said that the team will take it as another Test match and that the outcome won't carry too much significance.&nbsp;

"It has to be a hard grind and something that definitely needs to be worked around in the future. "At the end of three matches, where there's effort, there's ups and downs, there's situations changing during the course of the series, a chance to rectify the things you have done in the first game, and then really see who is the better side over the course of a three-match series or something, will be a good measure of how things really are," Kohli added.

"So we are not too bothered by this result because we understand as a Test side what we have done over the last 3-4 years, not just over the last 18 months. So this is not a measure of who we are as a team [with] the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now."

In the past few Test series, Team India lost the opening Test match only to stage a comeback and win the series.&nbsp;

According to Kohli, worthy winners can be decided with two more Tests instead of a one-off match.&nbsp;

"Absolutely. If you saw the way the game went, with whatever time we got on the field, why wouldn't you want to see two more Tests of the same teams battling it out and, eventually, being the worthy winners of the World Test Championship? Historically all the great series that you've seen in Test cricket, you remember them over a period of three matches or five matches perhaps, with two teams going against each other and those series become memorable," the India captain pointed out.

"Absolutely. If you saw the way the game went, with whatever time we got on the field, why wouldn't you want to see two more Tests of the same teams battling it out and, eventually, being the worthy winners of the World Test Championship? Historically all the great series that you've seen in Test cricket, you remember them over a period of three matches or five matches perhaps, with two teams going against each other and those series become memorable," the India captain pointed out.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000. ALSO READ: New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels that the Test format cannot be fully utilised through a one-off match, either it is a series or the final of the World Test Championship final. "I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game. If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it," Kohli said after India's eight-wicket loss in Southampton to New Zealand. Indian head coach Ravi Shastri pitched the idea of a three-match series. Several former India players also supported Shastri's idea. On the eve of the match, skipper Kohli said that the team will take it as another Test match and that the outcome won't carry too much significance. "It has to be a hard grind and something that definitely needs to be worked around in the future. "At the end of three matches, where there's effort, there's ups and downs, there's situations changing during the course of the series, a chance to rectify the things you have done in the first game, and then really see who is the better side over the course of a three-match series or something, will be a good measure of how things really are," Kohli added. "So we are not too bothered by this result because we understand as a Test side what we have done over the last 3-4 years, not just over the last 18 months. So this is not a measure of who we are as a team [with] the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now." In the past few Test series, Team India lost the opening Test match only to stage a comeback and win the series. According to Kohli, worthy winners can be decided with two more Tests instead of a one-off match. "Absolutely. If you saw the way the game went, with whatever time we got on the field, why wouldn't you want to see two more Tests of the same teams battling it out and, eventually, being the worthy winners of the World Test Championship? Historically all the great series that you've seen in Test cricket, you remember them over a period of three matches or five matches perhaps, with two teams going against each other and those series become memorable," the India captain pointed out. "Absolutely. If you saw the way the game went, with whatever time we got on the field, why wouldn't you want to see two more Tests of the same teams battling it out and, eventually, being the worthy winners of the World Test Championship? Historically all the great series that you've seen in Test cricket, you remember them over a period of three matches or five matches perhaps, with two teams going against each other and those series become memorable," the India captain pointed out.

WTC Final- 'We are not too bothered by this result', says Virat Kohli

After losing the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand, Skipper Virat Kohli has suggested that there can be changes in the Test side as they go ahead.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-defeat-india-by-8-wickets-to-win-icc-world-test-championship-393493" hreflang="en">New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship</a>

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

"We will continue to reassess and continue to have conversations around what are the things required to strengthen our side and not follow or fall prey to certain patterns," Kohli said at the post-match virtual press conference.

"We will not wait for a year or so and have to plan. If you see our white-ball team now, we have great depth and guys are ready and confident. The same thing needs to be done with Test cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara's poor show in the WTC Final has put his position in jeopardy. The Indian Test specialist has failed to show intent and his slow-paced innings has put some pressure on the team's batting lineup.

"You have to reassess and replan and understand what dynamics work for the team and how we can be fearless. Bring in the right people who have right mindset to perform," the skipper added.

"I think evolving with the game and improving yourself with the game is very important and when you have been a top side for few years in a row, you don't want to suddenly drop your standards...

"We will certainly take those decisions and have those conversations and in near future," the skipper looked visibly hurt and in a mood to take some tough calls in near future.

"We definitely need to work out better plans on understanding how to score runs. We have to stay in sync with the momentum of the game and not let the game drift away too much. I don't think there are any technical difficulties as such," he asserted.

"It's more down to game awareness and being more brave in putting bowlers under pressure and not allowing them to bowl in similar areas for longer periods of time unless it is absolutely overcast and ball swinging all over the place like it happened on day 1."

"You can't be too worried about getting out as your bringing the bowler into the game completely. If as a batting unit, we put 300 on the board, it's a different kind of pressure on the opposition with the kind of bowlers we have. Kohli urged his batsmen to take calculated risks and strike a balance between well-timed strokeplay and holding an end.

"The endeavour would be to try and score runs and not worry about getting out in testing conditions. That's the way you can put the opposition under pressure otherwise you are standing there hoping that you don't get out, which you eventually will be because you are not being optimistic enough.

After losing the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand, Skipper Virat Kohli has suggested that there can be changes in the Test side as they go ahead.

After losing the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand, Skipper Virat Kohli has suggested that there can be changes in the Test side as they go ahead. ALSO READ: New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000. "We will continue to reassess and continue to have conversations around what are the things required to strengthen our side and not follow or fall prey to certain patterns," Kohli said at the post-match virtual press conference. "We will not wait for a year or so and have to plan. If you see our white-ball team now, we have great depth and guys are ready and confident. The same thing needs to be done with Test cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara's poor show in the WTC Final has put his position in jeopardy. The Indian Test specialist has failed to show intent and his slow-paced innings has put some pressure on the team's batting lineup. "You have to reassess and replan and understand what dynamics work for the team and how we can be fearless. Bring in the right people who have right mindset to perform," the skipper added. "I think evolving with the game and improving yourself with the game is very important and when you have been a top side for few years in a row, you don't want to suddenly drop your standards... "We will certainly take those decisions and have those conversations and in near future," the skipper looked visibly hurt and in a mood to take some tough calls in near future. "We definitely need to work out better plans on understanding how to score runs. We have to stay in sync with the momentum of the game and not let the game drift away too much. I don't think there are any technical difficulties as such," he asserted. "It's more down to game awareness and being more brave in putting bowlers under pressure and not allowing them to bowl in similar areas for longer periods of time unless it is absolutely overcast and ball swinging all over the place like it happened on day 1." "You can't be too worried about getting out as your bringing the bowler into the game completely. If as a batting unit, we put 300 on the board, it's a different kind of pressure on the opposition with the kind of bowlers we have. Kohli urged his batsmen to take calculated risks and strike a balance between well-timed strokeplay and holding an end. "The endeavour would be to try and score runs and not worry about getting out in testing conditions. That's the way you can put the opposition under pressure otherwise you are standing there hoping that you don't get out, which you eventually will be because you are not being optimistic enough.

'We will not wait for a year': Virat Kohli hints changes after WTC Final loss

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Rishabh Pant's knock in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl.&nbsp;

The Indian wicketkeeper was seen trying to force things by going down the track multiple times against New Zealand seamers.&nbsp;

“There is a thin line between carefree and careless. Pant has at times breached the line of carefree and careless,” Gavaskar said during commentary on Wednesday.

“A couple of times he went for a big hit when he was in the 90s and missed an opportunity to score a hundred. The only issue with Pant is always going to be his shot selection; otherwise, he has a got the defence, got all the shots and technique,” he added.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

The Black Caps, who ended up as the runners-up in 2019 World Cup, continued to build on the improvement in the longest format and enjoyed a brilliant World Test Championship cycle, especially at home.

In a match dominated more by the bowlers, the New Zealand pace quarter stood up with Kyle Jamieson shining the brightest with a five-wicket haul in an ICC final. While Jamieson picked up seven wickets, Tim Southee and Trent Boult ended up with five wickets each. Neil Wagner’s wicket column might show just three wickets, they were crucial to strengthen New Zealand’s stronghold in the match.

After rain delays, India’s batting cracked in the second innings with Jamieson running it past the Indian batting unit. Only Pant with a topsy-turvy 41-run knock stood out, while Rohit Sharma saw off the new ball well with 81-ball 30.

New Zealand started their chase cautiously with both left-handed openers failing victims to Ashwin’s intelligence. A couple of dropped catches by Pujara and Bumrah hurt them Williamson, 52 not-out, Taylor, 47 not-out, guided New Zealand to a win for ages. The winners of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, New Zealand.

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Rishabh Pant's knock in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl.

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Rishabh Pant's knock in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl. The Indian wicketkeeper was seen trying to force things by going down the track multiple times against New Zealand seamers. “There is a thin line between carefree and careless. Pant has at times breached the line of carefree and careless,” Gavaskar said during commentary on Wednesday. “A couple of times he went for a big hit when he was in the 90s and missed an opportunity to score a hundred. The only issue with Pant is always going to be his shot selection; otherwise, he has a got the defence, got all the shots and technique,” he added. New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000. The Black Caps, who ended up as the runners-up in 2019 World Cup, continued to build on the improvement in the longest format and enjoyed a brilliant World Test Championship cycle, especially at home. In a match dominated more by the bowlers, the New Zealand pace quarter stood up with Kyle Jamieson shining the brightest with a five-wicket haul in an ICC final. While Jamieson picked up seven wickets, Tim Southee and Trent Boult ended up with five wickets each. Neil Wagner’s wicket column might show just three wickets, they were crucial to strengthen New Zealand’s stronghold in the match. After rain delays, India’s batting cracked in the second innings with Jamieson running it past the Indian batting unit. Only Pant with a topsy-turvy 41-run knock stood out, while Rohit Sharma saw off the new ball well with 81-ball 30. New Zealand started their chase cautiously with both left-handed openers failing victims to Ashwin’s intelligence. A couple of dropped catches by Pujara and Bumrah hurt them Williamson, 52 not-out, Taylor, 47 not-out, guided New Zealand to a win for ages. The winners of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, New Zealand.

WTC Final- 'Thin line between carefree and careless': Gavaskar on Pant's knock

Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels that the Test format cannot be fully utilised through a one-off match, either it is a series or the final of the World Test Championship final and felt that a best of three could really determine a worthy winner in future.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-zealand-defeat-india-by-8-wickets-to-win-icc-world-test-championship-393493" hreflang="en">New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship</a>

"I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game. If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it," Kohli said after India's eight-wicket loss in Southampton to New Zealand.

"It has to be a hard grind and something that definitely needs to be worked around in the future. At the end of three matches, where there's effort, there's ups and downs, there's situations changing during the course of the series, a chance to rectify the things you have done in the first game, and then really see who is the better side over the course of a three-match series or something, will be a good measure of how things really are," Kohli added.

"So we are not too bothered by this result because we understand as a Test side what we have done over the last 3-4 years, not just over the last 18 months. So this is not a measure of who we are as a team [with] the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now."

However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan did not agree with Kohli and disagreed with his 'best of three' formula. Vaughan even gave reasons to back his opinion on Twitter.&nbsp;

"Where in the schedule would it fit in ?? Are the IPL going to reduce the year of the final tournament by 2 weeks so it could fit in ? Doubt it ..: Finals are one off games where teams/individuals know they have to deliver … that's what makes them so great," Vaughan tweeted.

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Where in the schedule would it fit in ?? Are the IPL going to reduce the year of the final tournament by 2 weeks so it could fit in ? Doubt it ..: Finals are one off games where teams/individuals know they have to deliver … that’s what makes them so great 👍 <a href="https://t.co/MhqHkp5lvH">https://t.co/MhqHkp5lvH</a>
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Vaughan was backed by former Aussie cricketer Brad Hogg. "Agree with @MichaelVaughan. Does not get any tougher than one chance. That is the ultimate test. #ICCWTCFinal," tweeted Hogg.

New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels that the Test format cannot be fully utilised through a one-off match, either it is a series or the final of the World Test Championship final and felt that a best of three could really determine a worthy winner in future.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli feels that the Test format cannot be fully utilised through a one-off match, either it is a series or the final of the World Test Championship final and felt that a best of three could really determine a worthy winner in future. ALSO READ: New Zealand defeat India by 8 wickets to win ICC World Test Championship "I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game. If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it," Kohli said after India's eight-wicket loss in Southampton to New Zealand. "It has to be a hard grind and something that definitely needs to be worked around in the future. At the end of three matches, where there's effort, there's ups and downs, there's situations changing during the course of the series, a chance to rectify the things you have done in the first game, and then really see who is the better side over the course of a three-match series or something, will be a good measure of how things really are," Kohli added. "So we are not too bothered by this result because we understand as a Test side what we have done over the last 3-4 years, not just over the last 18 months. So this is not a measure of who we are as a team [with] the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now." However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan did not agree with Kohli and disagreed with his 'best of three' formula. Vaughan even gave reasons to back his opinion on Twitter. "Where in the schedule would it fit in ?? Are the IPL going to reduce the year of the final tournament by 2 weeks so it could fit in ? Doubt it ..: Finals are one off games where teams/individuals know they have to deliver … that's what makes them so great," Vaughan tweeted. Where in the schedule would it fit in ?? Are the IPL going to reduce the year of the final tournament by 2 weeks so it could fit in ? Doubt it ..: Finals are one off games where teams/individuals know they have to deliver … that’s what makes them so great 👍 https://t.co/MhqHkp5lvH — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 24, 2021 × Vaughan was backed by former Aussie cricketer Brad Hogg. "Agree with @MichaelVaughan. Does not get any tougher than one chance. That is the ultimate test. #ICCWTCFinal," tweeted Hogg. New Zealand on Wednesday defeated India by eight wickets to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. New Zealand's two most experienced batters – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – guided the Kiwis to their first ICC trophy since 2000.

Cricket: 'Finals are one off games': Michael Vaughan disagrees with Virat Kohli's idea

New Zealand, who ended up as the runners-up in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, finally tasted a win in the finals of an ICC tournament since 2000 as they won the World Test Championship final against India at Rose Bowl on Wednesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-we-are-not-too-bothered-by-this-result-says-virat-kohli-393565" hreflang="en">WTC Final- 'We are not too bothered by this result', says Virat Kohli</a>

"It's a special feeling. It's nice to get one under the belt. I'd like to thank Virat and the Indian team. The heart that our team showed was commendable. It's the first time we have come away with a world title, and the 22 players who played a big part in getting across the line deserve all the appreciation," winning captain Kane Williamson said after the match.

New Zealand suffered a heartbreak couple of years ago when they took on England in the 2019 World Cup final. However, they redeemed themselves after dominating the Indian side in Southampton.&nbsp;

"This will be remembered for a long time. We don't always have all the stars, and we saw that in this match. We saw so much heart and commitment. We know how strong the Indian side is, in all conditions."

"It's a fickle game, in a one-off final. It ebbed and flowed, no one really had the upper hand for six days, and I'm happy we're on the right side of it. It was certainly tough going in the first innings. The lower order played with more freedom and got us a lead that gave us an edge," Williamson added.

"Ross is obviously very experienced and calm in these situations and it was great to be with him right there at the end. BJ Watling - I don't know if he's retiring any more actually (jokes). He's a scrappy player, so this is a fitting end to a fantastic career for BJ Watling."

New Zealand, who ended up as the runners-up in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, finally tasted a win in the finals of an ICC tournament since 2000 as they won the World Test Championship final against India at Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

New Zealand, who ended up as the runners-up in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, finally tasted a win in the finals of an ICC tournament since 2000 as they won the World Test Championship final against India at Rose Bowl on Wednesday. ALSO READ: WTC Final- 'We are not too bothered by this result', says Virat Kohli "It's a special feeling. It's nice to get one under the belt. I'd like to thank Virat and the Indian team. The heart that our team showed was commendable. It's the first time we have come away with a world title, and the 22 players who played a big part in getting across the line deserve all the appreciation," winning captain Kane Williamson said after the match. New Zealand suffered a heartbreak couple of years ago when they took on England in the 2019 World Cup final. However, they redeemed themselves after dominating the Indian side in Southampton. "This will be remembered for a long time. We don't always have all the stars, and we saw that in this match. We saw so much heart and commitment. We know how strong the Indian side is, in all conditions." "It's a fickle game, in a one-off final. It ebbed and flowed, no one really had the upper hand for six days, and I'm happy we're on the right side of it. It was certainly tough going in the first innings. The lower order played with more freedom and got us a lead that gave us an edge," Williamson added. "Ross is obviously very experienced and calm in these situations and it was great to be with him right there at the end. BJ Watling - I don't know if he's retiring any more actually (jokes). He's a scrappy player, so this is a fitting end to a fantastic career for BJ Watling."

'It's nice to get one under the belt', says Kane Williamson after winning WTC Final

Tim Southee enjoyed a fine day with bat and ball to put New Zealand in a strong position heading into the reserve day of the ICC World Test Championship Final in Southampton.

The 32-year-old scored a quickfire 30 before removing both Indian openers in an absorbing final session, with India leading by 32.&nbsp;

Starting the day trailing by 116 runs, New Zealand began patiently, with Kane Williamson anchoring the innings, but three wickets before lunch opened the door for India.&nbsp;

However, cameos from Kyle Jamieson and Southee were enough to secure a 32-run first innings lead to sit in the driver’s seat in the push for a result.&nbsp;

Southee then removed Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma with some clever inswing in tricky batting conditions.&nbsp;

New Zealand made a circumspect start to the day, with runs hard to come by after a delayed start.&nbsp;

It took more than four overs for the first runs off the bat, and just 16 were scored in the first hour of play.&nbsp;

That pressure eventually told, with Ross Taylor driving on the up off Mohammed Shami, caught by a diving Gill for 11.&nbsp;

Henry Nicholls followed soon after for seven, caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Ishant Sharma before Shami cleaned up BJ Watling for one as New Zealand slipped to 135/5 at lunch.&nbsp;

If the first session belonged to India, New Zealand fought back in the second, playing with greater intent, with Colin de Grandhomme’s drive for four to kick off the session an indication of what would follow.&nbsp;

The all-rounder fell leg before to Shami for 13, but Jamieson came in and hammered 21 off just 16 deliveries, including one huge heave over long-on off Shami.&nbsp;

The Indian quick had his revenge the very next ball, as Jamieson hit a top-edge to Jasprit Bumrah at long leg.&nbsp;

All the while, Williamson was plugging away at the other end, eventually dismissed for 49 after 177 deliveries, caught by Virat Kohli as he was tempted to play a wide one by Ishant Sharma.&nbsp;

His strike rate of 27.7 is the lowest he has had in an innings where he has reached 20, an indication of just how hard he had to dig in, but while he missed out on a half-century, New Zealand had the lead by the time he departed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-length-has-done-the-trick-sanjay-bangar-on-indian-pacer-success-on-day-5-vs-nz-393186" hreflang="en">WTC Final: 'Length has done the trick' - Sanjay Bangar on Indian pacer' success on Day 5 vs NZ</a>

At 221 for eight, the tail was given license to have a go, and Southee took full advantage. He hit two sixes and a four in his 46-ball 30 putting on some valuable runs with Neil Wagner (0) and Trent Boult (5 not out) before he was the last man out, bowled off his pads by Ravindra Jadeja.&nbsp;

To challenge for the win, New Zealand needed some early wickets, and Gill fell for eight as Southee brought one back in to pin him leg before with the deficit still at eight.

Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara knuckled down but another Southee inswinger did for the former, failing to play a shot as he went LBW for 30.&nbsp;

Pujara and Kohli saw out the remainder of the session and will return on Wednesday looking to build on India’s lead of 32.&nbsp;

The ICC confirmed that the reserve day would be utilised with a maximum of 98 overs (83 plus 15) to be bowled and play to begin at 10.30 a.m.&nbsp;BST

Tim Southee enjoyed a fine day with bat and ball to put New Zealand in a strong position heading into the reserve day of the ICC World Test Championship Final in Southampton.

Tim Southee enjoyed a fine day with bat and ball to put New Zealand in a strong position heading into the reserve day of the ICC World Test Championship Final in Southampton. The 32-year-old scored a quickfire 30 before removing both Indian openers in an absorbing final session, with India leading by 32. Starting the day trailing by 116 runs, New Zealand began patiently, with Kane Williamson anchoring the innings, but three wickets before lunch opened the door for India. However, cameos from Kyle Jamieson and Southee were enough to secure a 32-run first innings lead to sit in the driver’s seat in the push for a result. Southee then removed Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma with some clever inswing in tricky batting conditions. New Zealand made a circumspect start to the day, with runs hard to come by after a delayed start. It took more than four overs for the first runs off the bat, and just 16 were scored in the first hour of play. That pressure eventually told, with Ross Taylor driving on the up off Mohammed Shami, caught by a diving Gill for 11. Henry Nicholls followed soon after for seven, caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Ishant Sharma before Shami cleaned up BJ Watling for one as New Zealand slipped to 135/5 at lunch. If the first session belonged to India, New Zealand fought back in the second, playing with greater intent, with Colin de Grandhomme’s drive for four to kick off the session an indication of what would follow. The all-rounder fell leg before to Shami for 13, but Jamieson came in and hammered 21 off just 16 deliveries, including one huge heave over long-on off Shami. The Indian quick had his revenge the very next ball, as Jamieson hit a top-edge to Jasprit Bumrah at long leg. All the while, Williamson was plugging away at the other end, eventually dismissed for 49 after 177 deliveries, caught by Virat Kohli as he was tempted to play a wide one by Ishant Sharma. His strike rate of 27.7 is the lowest he has had in an innings where he has reached 20, an indication of just how hard he had to dig in, but while he missed out on a half-century, New Zealand had the lead by the time he departed. ALSO READ: WTC Final: 'Length has done the trick' - Sanjay Bangar on Indian pacer' success on Day 5 vs NZ At 221 for eight, the tail was given license to have a go, and Southee took full advantage. He hit two sixes and a four in his 46-ball 30 putting on some valuable runs with Neil Wagner (0) and Trent Boult (5 not out) before he was the last man out, bowled off his pads by Ravindra Jadeja. To challenge for the win, New Zealand needed some early wickets, and Gill fell for eight as Southee brought one back in to pin him leg before with the deficit still at eight. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara knuckled down but another Southee inswinger did for the former, failing to play a shot as he went LBW for 30. Pujara and Kohli saw out the remainder of the session and will return on Wednesday looking to build on India’s lead of 32. The ICC confirmed that the reserve day would be utilised with a maximum of 98 overs (83 plus 15) to be bowled and play to begin at 10.30 a.m. BST

WTC Final: Tim Southee stars as New Zealand eye victory on reserve day

Team India had an excellent first session on Day 5 of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The BlackCaps, who were in the better position, lost quick wickets and were five down by Lunch.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-length-has-done-the-trick-sanjay-bangar-on-indian-pacer-success-on-day-5-vs-nz-393186" hreflang="en">'Length has done the trick' - Sanjay Bangar on Indian pacer' success</a>

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain lauded skipper Kohli's captaincy and complimented him for bowling changes.&nbsp;

"I thought Virat Kohli had a day as well, good morning. Every bowling change he made (was a good one). To the left-hander Nicholls, we know Ishant bowls well, bowl straight on. He kept Shami on even though he bowled six or seven overs in that session. So, pretty much spot on from India throughout the session. Catching, captaincy, and bowling," Hussain told on Star Sports.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-would-have-picked-bhuvneshwar-kumar-for-wtc-final-opines-sunil-gavaskar-393165" hreflang="en">Cricket: Would have picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar for WTC Final, opines Sunil Gavaskar</a>

"Sometimes, Virat Kohli does certain things, I call him the tinker man. But today morning, he did things with a lot of purpose. The changes he made were absolutely spot-on. Ishant to the left-handers. And like VVS Laxman said, there was no left-hander for Ashwin. 10 minutes to go to Lunch. BJ Watling in the middle, and he kept Shami on. And immediately Shami gets the wicket.

"He made right changes at the right time," Hussain added.

"Now, India are the favourites even though New Zealand were the favourites half an hour ago, and that is how quickly things change in England. And that is why Virat Kohli's captaincy was spot-on," he signed off.

Team India had an excellent first session on Day 5 of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The BlackCaps, who were in the better position, lost quick wickets and were five down by Lunch.

Team India had an excellent first session on Day 5 of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The BlackCaps, who were in the better position, lost quick wickets and were five down by Lunch. ALSO READ: 'Length has done the trick' - Sanjay Bangar on Indian pacer' success Former England skipper Nasser Hussain lauded skipper Kohli's captaincy and complimented him for bowling changes. "I thought Virat Kohli had a day as well, good morning. Every bowling change he made (was a good one). To the left-hander Nicholls, we know Ishant bowls well, bowl straight on. He kept Shami on even though he bowled six or seven overs in that session. So, pretty much spot on from India throughout the session. Catching, captaincy, and bowling," Hussain told on Star Sports. ALSO READ: Cricket: Would have picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar for WTC Final, opines Sunil Gavaskar "Sometimes, Virat Kohli does certain things, I call him the tinker man. But today morning, he did things with a lot of purpose. The changes he made were absolutely spot-on. Ishant to the left-handers. And like VVS Laxman said, there was no left-hander for Ashwin. 10 minutes to go to Lunch. BJ Watling in the middle, and he kept Shami on. And immediately Shami gets the wicket. "He made right changes at the right time," Hussain added. "Now, India are the favourites even though New Zealand were the favourites half an hour ago, and that is how quickly things change in England. And that is why Virat Kohli's captaincy was spot-on," he signed off.

WTC Final - 'He did things with lot of purpose': Nasser Hussain lauds Virat Kohli's captaincy

Indian skipper Virat Kohli's heartwarming gesture towards New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling has won several hearts across the internet. Skipper Kohli was seen shaking hands with Watling before kicking off Day 6 of the World Test Championship final at Rose Bowl in Southampton.&nbsp;

Watling is playing the last match of his international career and being it the final day of the game Kohli was seen congratulating the BlackCaps wicket-keeper.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli's gesture received a lot of praises from several netizens on Twitter.&nbsp;

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Nice gesture from Indian captain Virat Kohli, having few words to Watling who is playing his final day in International career. <a href="https://t.co/KE8xMUQpfg">pic.twitter.com/KE8xMUQpfg</a>
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1407637666586193920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Wonderful sportsmanship by the no.4 best test batsman Virat Kohli as he respects the hole career of BJ Watling by the way mentioned 👇 <a href="https://t.co/L0z5ry8m7u">pic.twitter.com/L0z5ry8m7u</a>
— TRAGIC GUY (@SABYASA03555819) <a href="https://twitter.com/SABYASA03555819/status/1407637909608357888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Wonderful sportsmanship spirit by Virat Kohli, he's congratulating BJ Watling on a fantastic career. <a href="https://t.co/5QrlPoyax2">pic.twitter.com/5QrlPoyax2</a>
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1407632125940027395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Watling will bid adieu to his international career after being New Zealand’s second most capped Test wicketkeeper after Adam Parore. He featured in 75 Tests for the BlackCaps and has scored 3790 runs (so far) at an average of 37.52.&nbsp;

Earlier, Tim Southee went past Ricky Ponting in the elite list of sixes-hitters in Test cricket.&nbsp;

The pacer smashed two sixes and scored a crucial 46-ball 30 runs. With these maximums, Tim Southee has 75 sixes in 79 Test matches and is now on the 15th spot on the overall list. He overtook former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting and just three sixes away from going past MS Dhoni.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli's heartwarming gesture towards New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling has won several hearts across the internet. Skipper Kohli was seen shaking hands with Watling before kicking off Day 6 of the World Test Championship final at Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli's heartwarming gesture towards New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling has won several hearts across the internet. Skipper Kohli was seen shaking hands with Watling before kicking off Day 6 of the World Test Championship final at Rose Bowl in Southampton. Watling is playing the last match of his international career and being it the final day of the game Kohli was seen congratulating the BlackCaps wicket-keeper. Virat Kohli's gesture received a lot of praises from several netizens on Twitter. Nice gesture from Indian captain Virat Kohli, having few words to Watling who is playing his final day in International career. pic.twitter.com/KE8xMUQpfg — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 23, 2021 × Wonderful sportsmanship by the no.4 best test batsman Virat Kohli as he respects the hole career of BJ Watling by the way mentioned 👇 pic.twitter.com/L0z5ry8m7u — TRAGIC GUY (@SABYASA03555819) June 23, 2021 × Wonderful sportsmanship spirit by Virat Kohli, he's congratulating BJ Watling on a fantastic career. pic.twitter.com/5QrlPoyax2 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 23, 2021 × Watling will bid adieu to his international career after being New Zealand’s second most capped Test wicketkeeper after Adam Parore. He featured in 75 Tests for the BlackCaps and has scored 3790 runs (so far) at an average of 37.52. Earlier, Tim Southee went past Ricky Ponting in the elite list of sixes-hitters in Test cricket. The pacer smashed two sixes and scored a crucial 46-ball 30 runs. With these maximums, Tim Southee has 75 sixes in 79 Test matches and is now on the 15th spot on the overall list. He overtook former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting and just three sixes away from going past MS Dhoni.

WTC Final- Virat Kohli's gesture towards BJ Watling wins hearts across social media

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was impressed with Team India's batting performance on Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl in Southampton.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-very-disappointed-shane-warne-slams-new-zealand-for-not-including-spinner-392632" hreflang="en">WTC Final- 'Very disappointed': Shane Warne slams New Zealand for not including spinner</a>

The Men in Blue ended their day on 146/3 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane on crease taking the team forward. The duo have put up crucial unbeaten 58 runs for the fourth wicket.

Vaughan tweeted that Virat and Co. did well to reach 146/3, and also mentioned what he thinks would be an ideal first-innings total for the team. "225 looks around par to me in Southampton... India have done very, very well so far in these conditions not to have lost a lot more," he tweeted.

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225 looks around par to me in Southampton … India have done very very well so far in these conditions not to have lost a lot more … <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldtestchampionshipfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldtestchampionshipfinal</a> … Anyway it’s time for a G &amp; T up north … <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnOn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsNZ</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1406262923635445760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Team India's Vikram Rathour on Saturday mentioned that 250 would be a fighting total against New Zealand. However, Team India still have several batsmen left in the lineup to take their score past 300.&nbsp;

"We would like to score as many runs as possible but 250 plus will be a reasonable score in these conditions," Rathour had said at the day-end press conference. "Batting is about scoring runs. Rohit and Gill showed a lot of intent and looked to score wherever they can. Hats off to Virat and Rahane for the manner in which they batted but a lot of credit should also go to the openers."

Despite conditions being a test for the batsman, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start to the Men in Blue.&nbsp;

The duo put up 62 runs on the stand for the opening wicket before Sharma got dismissed on 34, whereas, Gill got dismissed on 28 by Jamieson and Wagner respectively.&nbsp;

The first hour of the match went in India's favour, but two wickets of Sharma and Gill brought New Zealand back in the game by the end of the first session.&nbsp;

Cheteshwar Pujara's resistance against Kiwi pacers did not last long as the batsman departed at 8 runs after being lbw by Trent Boult.&nbsp;

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was impressed with Team India's batting performance on Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was impressed with Team India's batting performance on Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand at Rose Bowl in Southampton. ALSO READ: WTC Final- 'Very disappointed': Shane Warne slams New Zealand for not including spinner The Men in Blue ended their day on 146/3 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane on crease taking the team forward. The duo have put up crucial unbeaten 58 runs for the fourth wicket. Vaughan tweeted that Virat and Co. did well to reach 146/3, and also mentioned what he thinks would be an ideal first-innings total for the team. "225 looks around par to me in Southampton... India have done very, very well so far in these conditions not to have lost a lot more," he tweeted. 225 looks around par to me in Southampton … India have done very very well so far in these conditions not to have lost a lot more … #worldtestchampionshipfinal … Anyway it’s time for a G & T up north … #OnOn #INDvsNZ — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 19, 2021 × Team India's Vikram Rathour on Saturday mentioned that 250 would be a fighting total against New Zealand. However, Team India still have several batsmen left in the lineup to take their score past 300. "We would like to score as many runs as possible but 250 plus will be a reasonable score in these conditions," Rathour had said at the day-end press conference. "Batting is about scoring runs. Rohit and Gill showed a lot of intent and looked to score wherever they can. Hats off to Virat and Rahane for the manner in which they batted but a lot of credit should also go to the openers." Despite conditions being a test for the batsman, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start to the Men in Blue. The duo put up 62 runs on the stand for the opening wicket before Sharma got dismissed on 34, whereas, Gill got dismissed on 28 by Jamieson and Wagner respectively. The first hour of the match went in India's favour, but two wickets of Sharma and Gill brought New Zealand back in the game by the end of the first session. Cheteshwar Pujara's resistance against Kiwi pacers did not last long as the batsman departed at 8 runs after being lbw by Trent Boult.

WTC Final- 'India have done very, very well': Michael Vaughan lauds Virat and Co.'s batting effort

India enjoyed a fairly favourable Day 2 of the World Test Championship final at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday as the Virat Kohli-led outfit posted 146/3 amid disruptions due to bad light. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a solid start as the duo posted an opening 62-run stand. <o:p></o:p>

Rohit and Gill, both playing their first Test in England as Team India openers, were cautious and aggressive with their approach at the same time with the blend pushing New Zealand’s start with the ball on the back foot. While Trent Boult and Tim Southee were a bit awry in the first spell with the new ball, Rohit and Gill made sure to pounce on the bad deliveries and keep the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. <o:p></o:p>

While the duo threw their wickets away after settling down in overcast conditions in Southampton against a world-class New Zealand pace attack, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour lauded the Rohit and Gill for showing patience under challenging conditions but also showing intent to keep pushing the pressure back on the bowlers. <o:p></o:p>

“They batted well. I would give a lot of credit to even Rohit and I think Gill, as well, because I think they started off really well. It was&nbsp;pretty challenging conditions when we started. It was a fresh wicket, we lost the toss, and it was overcast throughout the day. So credit to the batters. I thought they showed a lot of restraint, a lot of discipline, and I think we have ended it pretty well,” Rathour said at the post-day press conference after Day 2.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-sneh-rana-becomes-first-indian-cricketer-to-script-unique-record-on-test-debut-392722" hreflang="en">Cricket: Sneh Rana becomes first Indian cricketer to script unique record on Test debut</a>

<o:p></o:p>

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As you'd expect from two classy back foot players, India have punished anything too short today. On the back foot, Gill and Rohit have scored 27 runs from 30 deliveries. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTCFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTCFinal</a>
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricvizanalyst/status/1406202644197167104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rohit and Gill being naturally aggressive batters didn’t leave a chance to showcase their stroke-play as the duo played a few cracking strokes. While Rohit’s cover-drives and back-foot punch brought on cheers from the Southampton crowd, Gill’s pull shots left the crowd and millions of viewers in awe. <o:p></o:p>

Rathour opined that they can take the attack away and put pressure on the bowling side due to their dominating style of batting.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-it-was-a-good-day-for-test-cricket-says-new-zealand-pacer-kyle-jamieson-392684" hreflang="en">WTC Final: It was a good day for Test cricket, says New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson</a><o:p></o:p>

“Yeah, of course, if they come good, they can take an attack away and really put pressure on the bowling side. They showed that today. Unfortunately, both of them got out after getting set, but one of the days I'm sure one of them is going to carry on, and that could be the day when we can have a really, really good start. You know, both of them playing the way they play can put a lot of pressure on the bowling side.” Rathour explained.

<o:p>With Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease, India would be looking to continue their run-flow when play starts at Day 3. India were on 146/3 at stumps, on Day 2.</o:p>

India enjoyed a fairly favourable Day 2 of the World Test Championship final at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday as the Virat Kohli-led outfit posted 146/3 amid disruptions due to bad light.

India enjoyed a fairly favourable Day 2 of the World Test Championship final at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday as the Virat Kohli-led outfit posted 146/3 amid disruptions due to bad light. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a solid start as the duo posted an opening 62-run stand. Rohit and Gill, both playing their first Test in England as Team India openers, were cautious and aggressive with their approach at the same time with the blend pushing New Zealand’s start with the ball on the back foot. While Trent Boult and Tim Southee were a bit awry in the first spell with the new ball, Rohit and Gill made sure to pounce on the bad deliveries and keep the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. While the duo threw their wickets away after settling down in overcast conditions in Southampton against a world-class New Zealand pace attack, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour lauded the Rohit and Gill for showing patience under challenging conditions but also showing intent to keep pushing the pressure back on the bowlers. “They batted well. I would give a lot of credit to even Rohit and I think Gill, as well, because I think they started off really well. It was pretty challenging conditions when we started. It was a fresh wicket, we lost the toss, and it was overcast throughout the day. So credit to the batters. I thought they showed a lot of restraint, a lot of discipline, and I think we have ended it pretty well,” Rathour said at the post-day press conference after Day 2. ALSO READ: Cricket: Sneh Rana becomes first Indian cricketer to script unique record on Test debut As you'd expect from two classy back foot players, India have punished anything too short today. On the back foot, Gill and Rohit have scored 27 runs from 30 deliveries. #WTCFinal — The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) June 19, 2021 × Rohit and Gill being naturally aggressive batters didn’t leave a chance to showcase their stroke-play as the duo played a few cracking strokes. While Rohit’s cover-drives and back-foot punch brought on cheers from the Southampton crowd, Gill’s pull shots left the crowd and millions of viewers in awe. Rathour opined that they can take the attack away and put pressure on the bowling side due to their dominating style of batting. ALSO READ: WTC Final: It was a good day for Test cricket, says New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson “Yeah, of course, if they come good, they can take an attack away and really put pressure on the bowling side. They showed that today. Unfortunately, both of them got out after getting set, but one of the days I'm sure one of them is going to carry on, and that could be the day when we can have a really, really good start. You know, both of them playing the way they play can put a lot of pressure on the bowling side.” Rathour explained. With Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease, India would be looking to continue their run-flow when play starts at Day 3. India were on 146/3 at stumps, on Day 2.

WTC Final: 'They can take an attack away' - Vikram Rathour lauds Rohit Sharma-Shubman Gill's opening pairing

World Test Championship final finally kicked off on Day 2 after the first Day was abandoned without play due to a heavy downpour. However, the toss was underway on the second day and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to field first as he felt that the overcast conditions will favour their star seamers.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-very-disappointed-shane-warne-slams-new-zealand-for-not-including-spinner-392632" hreflang="en">WTC Final- 'Very disappointed': Shane Warne slams New Zealand for not including spinner</a>

Despite conditions being a test for the batsman, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start to the Men in Blue.&nbsp;

The duo put up 62 runs on the stand for the opening wicket before Sharma got dismissed on 34, whereas, Gill got dismissed on 28 by Jamieson and Wagner respectively.&nbsp;

The first hour of the match went in India's favour, but two wickets of Sharma and Gill brought New Zealand back in the game by the end of the first session.&nbsp;

Cheteshwar Pujara's resistance against Kiwi pacers did not last long as the batsman departed&nbsp;at 8 runs after being lbw by Trent Boult.&nbsp;

However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane held the team intact as they put on an unbeaten 58-run stand. Team India were 146/3 before stumps was called due to poor light.&nbsp;

Huge halts due to bad lights and poor weather conditions forced the match day to be cut short midway. However, Team India have batted really well after losing the toss in bowler-friendly conditions.&nbsp;

World Test Championship final finally kicked off on Day 2 after the first Day was abandoned without play due to a heavy downpour. However, the toss was underway on the second day and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to field first as he felt that the overcast conditions will favour their star seamers.

World Test Championship final finally kicked off on Day 2 after the first Day was abandoned without play due to a heavy downpour. However, the toss was underway on the second day and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to field first as he felt that the overcast conditions will favour their star seamers. ALSO READ: WTC Final- 'Very disappointed': Shane Warne slams New Zealand for not including spinner Despite conditions being a test for the batsman, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start to the Men in Blue. The duo put up 62 runs on the stand for the opening wicket before Sharma got dismissed on 34, whereas, Gill got dismissed on 28 by Jamieson and Wagner respectively. The first hour of the match went in India's favour, but two wickets of Sharma and Gill brought New Zealand back in the game by the end of the first session. Cheteshwar Pujara's resistance against Kiwi pacers did not last long as the batsman departed at 8 runs after being lbw by Trent Boult. However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane held the team intact as they put on an unbeaten 58-run stand. Team India were 146/3 before stumps was called due to poor light. Huge halts due to bad lights and poor weather conditions forced the match day to be cut short midway. However, Team India have batted really well after losing the toss in bowler-friendly conditions.

IND vs NZ, WTC Final, Day 2: Kohli, Rahane hold ground as bad light forces early stumps

Several fans have been waiting for the World Test Championship final for over a year. However, they were left disappointed as the first session of the match was washed out due to heavy rain in Southampton.&nbsp;

Many netizens on Twitter lashed out at ICC for conducting the WTC final in England during this season. Several fans shared funny memes regarding players playing in rain and both captains having a toss amidst floods.&nbsp;

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Despite of Weather Conditions ⛈🌧 Very Bad Pick From <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC2021</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTCFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTCFinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/ginJiCeuG3">pic.twitter.com/ginJiCeuG3</a>
— Keerthan ☣️ (@Keerthan_67) <a href="https://twitter.com/Keerthan_67/status/1405855542782824456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Live scenes from Southampton<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/TOlmwriIHu">pic.twitter.com/TOlmwriIHu</a>
— Ayush Prajapati ✨ (@Ayush19061) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ayush19061/status/1405845859229605897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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WTC organisers Carrying virat and kane for toss. <a href="https://t.co/6VKb4gpA7B">pic.twitter.com/6VKb4gpA7B</a>
— AMAAN UR RAHMAN (@ThoughtsOfAmaan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThoughtsOfAmaan/status/1405859195493052420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Live scenes from England<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/IPawvxzP9a">pic.twitter.com/IPawvxzP9a</a>
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) <a href="https://twitter.com/AskRishabh/status/1405859416151257088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Spectators waiting for match to start at Southampton be like: <a href="https://t.co/W4kk7eYmWQ">pic.twitter.com/W4kk7eYmWQ</a>
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England - The Worst place for any ICC event. 2013 CT Final, 2019 WC Final and now WTC 2021 Final are the glooming examples of ICC not being able to decide the correct venue for such bigger events. what a shame! <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ECB_cricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ECB_cricket</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC2021</a>
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A glance at the conjecture for Day 1 of the India versus New Zealand WTC last doesn't make for charming perusing taking everything into account. There is a forecast for a downpour just as notice for rainstorms. The overcast cover is the gauge to be a high 94% while the temperature will be cool, at around 16 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

The climate for the excess four days of India versus New Zealand WTC final is additionally not unreasonably encouraging, with the reliable expectation of downpour and industrious overcast cover.

The forecast for Day 1 isn't encouraging. In what is terrible information for fans, a downpour is probably going to unleash destruction in this match, with showers.

Various cricketers, analysts, and locals from Southampton have shared visuals from the stadium.

Several fans have been waiting for the World Test Championship final for over a year. However, they were left disappointed as the first session of the match was washed out due to heavy rain in Southampton.

Several fans have been waiting for the World Test Championship final for over a year. However, they were left disappointed as the first session of the match was washed out due to heavy rain in Southampton. Many netizens on Twitter lashed out at ICC for conducting the WTC final in England during this season. Several fans shared funny memes regarding players playing in rain and both captains having a toss amidst floods. Despite of Weather Conditions ⛈🌧 Very Bad Pick From @ICC #WTC2021 #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/ginJiCeuG3 — Keerthan ☣️ (@Keerthan_67) June 18, 2021 × Live scenes from Southampton#WTC2021 pic.twitter.com/TOlmwriIHu — Ayush Prajapati ✨ (@Ayush19061) June 18, 2021 × #WTC2021 WTC organisers Carrying virat and kane for toss. pic.twitter.com/6VKb4gpA7B — AMAAN UR RAHMAN (@ThoughtsOfAmaan) June 18, 2021 × Live scenes from England#WTC2021 pic.twitter.com/IPawvxzP9a — Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) June 18, 2021 × #WTC2021 Spectators waiting for match to start at Southampton be like: pic.twitter.com/W4kk7eYmWQ — MsParacetamol (@PreetiS_1530) June 18, 2021 × England - The Worst place for any ICC event. 2013 CT Final, 2019 WC Final and now WTC 2021 Final are the glooming examples of ICC not being able to decide the correct venue for such bigger events. what a shame! @ICC @ECB_cricket#WTC2021 — Piyush Mahajan (Adv)🇮🇳 (@advpiyush07) June 18, 2021 × A glance at the conjecture for Day 1 of the India versus New Zealand WTC last doesn't make for charming perusing taking everything into account. There is a forecast for a downpour just as notice for rainstorms. The overcast cover is the gauge to be a high 94% while the temperature will be cool, at around 16 degrees Celsius. The climate for the excess four days of India versus New Zealand WTC final is additionally not unreasonably encouraging, with the reliable expectation of downpour and industrious overcast cover. The forecast for Day 1 isn't encouraging. In what is terrible information for fans, a downpour is probably going to unleash destruction in this match, with showers. Various cricketers, analysts, and locals from Southampton have shared visuals from the stadium.

Cricket: Twitteratis lash out at ICC as rain plays spoilsport in WTC final

Fans will have to wait for one more day to catch the action of the World Test Championship final as Day 1 of the match was called off due to heavy rain.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-twitteratis-lash-out-at-icc-as-rain-play-spoilsport-in-wtc-final-392417" hreflang="en">Cricket: Twitteratis lash out at ICC as rain play spoilsport in WTC final</a>

The juggernaut clash between India and New Zealand was set to kick-off at 3 PM (IST), however, heavy downpour, kept delaying the match. After losing more than three hours on an opening day, the play has finally been called off.&nbsp;

The Day 1 of the highly-anticipated was abandoned without a toss. With this, all hopes rely on the reserve day set by ICC on June 23 that will be used to make up for lost overs and time due to rains.&nbsp;

"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,” ICC had said in a release while announcing the playing conditions for the WTC final.

However, the weather forecast for the next four days is also not encouraging as the Rose Bowl is expected to receive some more showers in the upcoming days. In a situation where a result of the clash&nbsp;is not achieved, the match&nbsp;will be declared a draw and both the teams will share the Test Championship trophy.&nbsp;

“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.

Fans will have to wait for one more day to catch the action of the World Test Championship final as Day 1 of the match was called off due to heavy rain. ALSO READ: Cricket: Twitteratis lash out at ICC as rain play spoilsport in WTC final The juggernaut clash between India and New Zealand was set to kick-off at 3 PM (IST), however, heavy downpour, kept delaying the match.

Fans will have to wait for one more day to catch the action of the World Test Championship final as Day 1 of the match was called off due to heavy rain. ALSO READ: Cricket: Twitteratis lash out at ICC as rain play spoilsport in WTC final The juggernaut clash between India and New Zealand was set to kick-off at 3 PM (IST), however, heavy downpour, kept delaying the match. After losing more than three hours on an opening day, the play has finally been called off. The Day 1 of the highly-anticipated was abandoned without a toss. With this, all hopes rely on the reserve day set by ICC on June 23 that will be used to make up for lost overs and time due to rains. "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,” ICC had said in a release while announcing the playing conditions for the WTC final. However, the weather forecast for the next four days is also not encouraging as the Rose Bowl is expected to receive some more showers in the upcoming days. In a situation where a result of the clash is not achieved, the match will be declared a draw and both the teams will share the Test Championship trophy. “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.

IND vs NZ, WTC Final: Day 1's play called off due to rain and wet outfield

With just over a day to go for the WTC final between India and New Zealand, former pacer Venkatesh Prasad has predicted Team India's playing XI as they take to pitch at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-taylor-targets-final-redemption-in-icc-world-test-championship-391856" hreflang="en">Cricket: Taylor targets Final redemption in ICC World Test Championship</a>

Venkatesh Prasad feels that Team India have the depth in both (batting and bowling) departments and expected the clash to be a cracking game.&nbsp;

He took to social media and tweeted: "My Indian playing 11 for the #WTCFinal is a no-brainier (Rohit, Shubman,Pujara, Virat, Rahane, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin, Shami, Ishant &amp; Bumrah ). They have the depth in both batting &amp; bowling irrespective of the pitch. Should be a cracking game."

Team India suffered a crushing defeat in the Test series at the hands of New Zealand that was played in 2020. New Zealand's pace attack proved to be too good for Team India in the series, therefore, the Indian batting order will be very crucial for the juggernaut clash in Southampton.&nbsp;

Earlier, former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman predicted Team India's batting order for the match and said that he will go ahead with five batsmen.&nbsp;

India squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.&nbsp;

With just over a day to go for the WTC final between India and New Zealand, former pacer Venkatesh Prasad has predicted Team India's playing XI as they take to pitch at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday.

With just over a day to go for the WTC final between India and New Zealand, former pacer Venkatesh Prasad has predicted Team India's playing XI as they take to pitch at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday. ALSO READ: Cricket: Taylor targets Final redemption in ICC World Test Championship Venkatesh Prasad feels that Team India have the depth in both (batting and bowling) departments and expected the clash to be a cracking game. He took to social media and tweeted: "My Indian playing 11 for the #WTCFinal is a no-brainier (Rohit, Shubman,Pujara, Virat, Rahane, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin, Shami, Ishant & Bumrah ). They have the depth in both batting & bowling irrespective of the pitch. Should be a cracking game." Team India suffered a crushing defeat in the Test series at the hands of New Zealand that was played in 2020. New Zealand's pace attack proved to be too good for Team India in the series, therefore, the Indian batting order will be very crucial for the juggernaut clash in Southampton. Earlier, former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman predicted Team India's batting order for the match and said that he will go ahead with five batsmen. India squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Venkatesh Prasad reveals his playing XI for Team India ahead of WTC final

Team India and New Zealand will clash against each other in World Test Championship final that will be played on Friday at the Rose&nbsp;Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will be looking to lift the Test Championship Mace and take home a cash price of US$ 1.6 million. Head groundsman at Southampton, Simon Lee is aiming to produce a competitive track with early help for pacers and with some assistance for spinners later in the summit clash.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-wtc-final-weather-predictions-ageas-bowl-pitch-conditions-and-probable-xi-392119" hreflang="en">IND vs NZ, WTC Final: Weather predictions, Rose Bowl pitch conditions and probable XI</a>

<h2>Here's when, where and how you will be able to watch the live streaming and telecast of the IND&nbsp;vs NZ WTC Final 2021 match:</h2>

<h2>What time will India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 match start?</h2>

The India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 match between India and New Zealand will start at 3:30 PM IST, while IND&nbsp;vs NZ WTC Final toss will take place at 3 PM IST.

<h2>Where will you be able to watch India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 live broadcast?</h2>

The India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 match between India and New Zealand will be telecast live in English on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD, and in Hindi on Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD.

<h2>How to watch India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 live streaming, online?</h2>

The live streaming of India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 will be available on Hotstar, while the live match will also be available on the Jio TV app.

Team India and New Zealand will clash against each other in World Test Championship final that will be played on Friday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will be looking to lift the Test Championship Mace and take home a cash price of US$ 1.

Team India and New Zealand will clash against each other in World Test Championship final that will be played on Friday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will be looking to lift the Test Championship Mace and take home a cash price of US$ 1.6 million. Head groundsman at Southampton, Simon Lee is aiming to produce a competitive track with early help for pacers and with some assistance for spinners later in the summit clash. ALSO READ: IND vs NZ, WTC Final: Weather predictions, Rose Bowl pitch conditions and probable XI Here's when, where and how you will be able to watch the live streaming and telecast of the IND vs NZ WTC Final 2021 match: What time will India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 match start? The India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 match between India and New Zealand will start at 3:30 PM IST, while IND vs NZ WTC Final toss will take place at 3 PM IST. Where will you be able to watch India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 live broadcast? The India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 match between India and New Zealand will be telecast live in English on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD, and in Hindi on Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD. How to watch India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 live streaming, online? The live streaming of India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final 2021 will be available on Hotstar, while the live match will also be available on the Jio TV app.

IND vs NZ, WTC Final, live streaming: When and where to watch India vs New Zealand?

Team India and New Zealand will clash against each other in World Test Championship final that will be played on Friday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will be looking to lift the Test Championship Mace and take home a cash price of US$ 1.6 million.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fearless-cricket-the-priority-for-rahane-as-wtc-final-vs-new-zealand-nears-392090" hreflang="en">Fearless cricket the priority for Rahane as WTC Final vs New Zealand nears</a>

<h2>Pitch conditions:&nbsp;</h2>

Head groundsman at Southampton, Simon Lee is aiming to produce a competitive track with early help for pacers and with some assistance for spinners later in the summit clash.

"Pitch preparation for this Test is a little simpler as we are a neutral venue, we are guided by the ICC, but we all want is a good pitch that offers an even contest between the teams," Lee told ESPNcricinfo.

"For me personally I just want to get something out that has some pace, bounce and carry in the pitch.

"It can be a hard thing to do in England as the weather doesn't help us most of the time, but the forecast in the build-up is good with a lot of sun, so we are hopeful that we'll get some pace and a hard pitch without over-rolling it and killing it."

<h2>Weather Conditions:&nbsp;</h2>

The weather conditions might play spoilsport with spells of rain and overcast conditions predicted during the course of the match. Almost all five days have a spell of showers. However, the sixth day (that is kept as a reserve day) is expected to partly sunny.&nbsp;

<h2>Predicted XI:&nbsp;</h2>

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Tom Latham (VC), Devon Conway, Ross Taylor, Henry Nichols, B J Watling, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner

Team India and New Zealand will clash against each other in World Test Championship final that will be played on Friday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Both teams will be looking to lift the Test Championship Mace and take home a cash price of US$ 1.6 million. ALSO READ: Fearless cricket the priority for Rahane as WTC Final vs New Zealand nears Pitch conditions: Head groundsman at Southampton, Simon Lee is aiming to produce a competitive track with early help for pacers and with some assistance for spinners later in the summit clash. "Pitch preparation for this Test is a little simpler as we are a neutral venue, we are guided by the ICC, but we all want is a good pitch that offers an even contest between the teams," Lee told ESPNcricinfo. "For me personally I just want to get something out that has some pace, bounce and carry in the pitch. "It can be a hard thing to do in England as the weather doesn't help us most of the time, but the forecast in the build-up is good with a lot of sun, so we are hopeful that we'll get some pace and a hard pitch without over-rolling it and killing it." Weather Conditions: The weather conditions might play spoilsport with spells of rain and overcast conditions predicted during the course of the match. Almost all five days have a spell of showers. However, the sixth day (that is kept as a reserve day) is expected to partly sunny. Predicted XI: India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Tom Latham (VC), Devon Conway, Ross Taylor, Henry Nichols, B J Watling, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner

IND vs NZ, WTC Final: Weather predictions, Rose Bowl pitch conditions and probable XI

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman predicted Team India's batting order for the upcoming World Test Championship finals against New Zealand. Virat and Co. suffered a crushing defeat in the Test series at the hands of New Zealand that was played in 2020.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-taylor-targets-final-redemption-in-icc-world-test-championship-391856" hreflang="en">Cricket: Taylor targets Final redemption in ICC World Test Championship</a>

New Zealand's pace attack proved to be too good for Team India in the series, therefore, the Indian batting order will be very crucial for the juggernaut clash in Southampton.&nbsp;

VVS Laxman, while speaking on Star Sports, said that he would go ahead with five batsmen.&nbsp;

"I would go with five batsmen, Rishabh as the wicket-keeper batsman at number six, and I've got a lot of belief in Jadeja at number seven and Ashwin at number eight," he said.

"Jadeja is a more than capable batsman who can now play match-winning knocks under pressure. So, I would back Jadeja to bat at number seven."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, set to be played from June 18 to 22 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team for the WTC Final with Ajinkya Rahane being his deputy. The pace department have been completed by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav while both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin complete the spin duo.

The likes of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar miss out on a spot due to tight competition. The duo rose to the occasion when India missed their star players in the historic tour of Australia.&nbsp;

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman predicted Team India's batting order for the upcoming World Test Championship finals against New Zealand. Virat and Co. suffered a crushing defeat in the Test series at the hands of New Zealand that was played in 2020.

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman predicted Team India's batting order for the upcoming World Test Championship finals against New Zealand. Virat and Co. suffered a crushing defeat in the Test series at the hands of New Zealand that was played in 2020. ALSO READ: Cricket: Taylor targets Final redemption in ICC World Test Championship New Zealand's pace attack proved to be too good for Team India in the series, therefore, the Indian batting order will be very crucial for the juggernaut clash in Southampton. VVS Laxman, while speaking on Star Sports, said that he would go ahead with five batsmen. "I would go with five batsmen, Rishabh as the wicket-keeper batsman at number six, and I've got a lot of belief in Jadeja at number seven and Ashwin at number eight," he said. "Jadeja is a more than capable batsman who can now play match-winning knocks under pressure. So, I would back Jadeja to bat at number seven." The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, set to be played from June 18 to 22 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team for the WTC Final with Ajinkya Rahane being his deputy. The pace department have been completed by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav while both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin complete the spin duo. The likes of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar miss out on a spot due to tight competition. The duo rose to the occasion when India missed their star players in the historic tour of Australia.

'Would go with five batsmen': VVS Laxman suggests Team India's batting order for WTC finals

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