India vs New Zealand: World Test Championship Final Review

 

After 4 days of riveting red ball cricketing action, New Zealand was finally able to fulfill their decades' long prophecy as they defeated India and became the undisputed champions of Test Cricket. The ICC World Test Championship final was everything a final needed to be: a showcase of exceptional cricket coming from both sides and a fitting end to the career of a modern-day great. The match saw high tension, drama, heartbreaks, and heroic efforts, and to sum it all up, it was a treat to the viewers. Despite the lingering threat of rain, both the teams gave it their all and at the end of it, New Zealand emerged as the better team and etched their names in the history books.

How did it all unfold? Read the full article to find out just how.

Playing XI:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma.

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner.

 

India 1^st Innings: Jamieson halts India’s momentum

 

After the first day being washed out due to rain, India was asked to bat first by Captain Kane upon winning the toss. The Indians got a steady start to their innings with the ravishing duo of Rohit (34) and Gill (29) held their nerves and battled the swing and pace of the Kiwi Pace Battery. They took little to no risk and put up a 62-run opening partnership but neither of them could convert their start into something big. After losing Pujara for 8, Captain Kohli and Vice-Captain Ajinkya Rahane batted through the day as India ended Day 2 looking comfortable at 146-3. Virat Kohli’s watchful knock of 44 off 132 came to an end in the early hours of Day 3 and thus began India’s collapse. Wickets of Pant (4) and Rahane (49) soon fell as India was reduced to 182-6 courtesy of some fine bowling by Jamieson and co. Cameos from Jadeja (15) and Ashwin (22) followed but none could really set the stage on fire. The Kiwis quickly ran through the tail-enders as India was bowled out for just 217. Trent Boult and Neil Wagner grabbed a brace each but Jamieson was the one who stole the show. Jamieson’s modus operandi was simple: ridicule the opposition with his pitch-perfect seam position and bounce. The tall lanky bowler grabbed another 5-wicket haul, ending with figures of 22-12-31-5 as NZ drew first blood in the battle.

 

New Zealand 1^st Innings: Shami bowls a dream spell but NZ take the lead

New Zealand received an awe inspiring start at the back of some quality knocks from their top 3. Openers Tom Latham (30) and Devon Conway (54) gave the Kiwis the ideal start with a 70-run partnership as they set the stage for the rest of the side. After Latham’s dismissal, Kane Williamson walked in to bat and he stood in the middle through the collapse of the middle order as Taylor (11), Nicholls (7), BJ Watling (1) and de Grandhomme (13) failed to make an impact in the grand scheme of things; courtesy of some mesmerizing bowling by Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. Williamson’s gritty knock of 49 off 177 balls came to an end courtesy of an unplayable delivery by Ishant Sharma. Entertaining cameos from Jamieson (21) and Southee (30) followed which helped make sure New Zealand took a lead of 32 runs as the Kiwis were restricted for 249 runs. Mohammed Shami was the man of the moment as he picked a 4-for and finished with brilliant figures of 26-8-76-4. Ishant Sharma was consistent throughout as well, picking up 3-48 while Ashwin grabbed a brace too.

 

India 2^nd Innings: India’s batting botches on Reserve Day

 

Trailing by 32 runs, India didn’t really get the desired start to their innings, losing Shubman Gill early for just 8. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara battled against the new ball and steadied the innings. This, however, didn’t last long as Rohit’s spirited knock of 30 off 81 balls came to an end, courtesy of Tim Southee. India ended Day 5 with Pujara and Kohli at the crease and the reserve day were put into effect. New Zealand had to restrict India under a total of 200 if they wanted to win the test match and the series of events that followed next was exactly what the doctor ordered for them. At the back of some magnificent bowling by Jamieson and co. in the early hours of Day 6, NZ completely exposed the inconsistent Indian middle-order as India went from cruising at 71-2 to struggling at109-5 in a matter of an hour. Pujara (15), Kohli (13), and Rahane (15) could barely scratch the surface as New Zealand started smelling victory. Rishabh Pant’s aggressive cameo of 41 was short-lived, as his care-free approach to the situation cost him his wicket. India’s lower order couldn’t deliver anything of notice, as they were restricted to a mere 170 runs as NZ needed 139 runs to be the World Test Champions. Tim Southee was the pick amongst the New Zealand bowlers as he finished with figures of 19-4-48-4. Trent Boult picked up 3 wickets and ended with figures of 15-2-39-3 while Jamieson grabbed a brace as well.

 

New Zealand 2^nd Innings: Willaimson and co. create history

 

New Zealand had to reach the target in 53 overs to win the match and the Indian bowlers gave them a tough fight for it. After receiving a seemingly okay-ish start from Latham (9) and Conway (19), New Zealand looked to be in some troubled waters at 44-2 courtesy of two back-to-back wickets from Ravi Ashwin. The two dismissals gave India a ray of hope but it was too little too late. The Kiwis’ fate hung in the balance and it was up to two of the most successful batsmen in New Zealand’s test history to rescue them from the situation and they rightfully did so. Williamson (52*) and Ross Taylor (47*) stepped up and made an unbeaten 96-run partnership, rendering the opposition’s attack insufficient. The duo batted with fantastic control and maturity and took New Zealand home comfortably with an 8-wicket victory over the Asian giants in a final day thriller. The Indian bowlers didn’t have much going on for them as apart from Ashwin; who grabbed a brace, no other bowler could pick a single wicket.

 

Conclusion: New Zealand’s 21-year drought for ICC Championship glory finally ended after a neck and neck battle in the Ultimate Test Match and New Zealand emerged as the better team. Their road to the finals was filled with ups and downs but as they seldom say, “Sometimes it’s all about how you finish, not how you started.” BJ Watling’s cricketing career came to a fitting end as the wicket-keeper batsman hung up his boots on a career-high. It wasn’t all smiles around in Southampton though as India fell short of yet another Championship victory. The ghosts from the past still haunt India as India hasn’t registered a single win in over 8 years now. They need a fresh start and a better approach to the game and hopefully they’ll emerge victorious next time around.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the winners of the World Test Championship 2021, New Zealand.