WTC Final: The world has got the first World Test champion country, but the team which was considered to be a strong contender for this title win. That team lost. New Zealand have achieved the distinction of becoming the ICC World Test Champions by defeating the Indian team. At the same time, the Indian team’s dream of becoming the world Test champion has been dashed. Know five reasons why Team India, captained by Virat Kohli, had to face defeat in the title match.
Not changing playing XI
The final match of the ICC World Test Championship was to start from June 18. In such a situation, India announced its playing XI on June 17 itself, which included three fast bowlers and two spinners. As soon as India’s playing XI was announced, opposing voices started rising that at least four fast bowlers should have been given a chance. Even the match did not start on 18th June and the toss was not even thrown. In such a situation, India had a chance to make changes in the playing XI, but captain Virat Kohli and the team management remained firm on their decision. At the same time, New Zealand fielded five fast bowlers and the result is in front of you. R Ashwin did take wickets on the strength of his art, but Jadeja did not get any help as a spinner.
Poor performance of Indian batsmen
The Indian team preferred young Shubman Gill as the opener over the experienced Mayank Agarwal. Mayank was the only batsman for India to score two double centuries in the World Test Championship. Even in the intra-squad match, he performed brilliantly, but Shubman Gill was made the partner of Rohit Sharma, as both of them played together in the last 5-6 matches. Gill scored 28 runs in the first innings and 8 runs in the second innings. Thus India did not get off to a good start. At the same time, the team expected from Cheteshwar Pujara, who was called troubleshooter, but he could score 23 runs in both the innings. Even in the entire match, no Indian batsman scored even a half-century. This was the main reason for the defeat.
Indian bowler craving for swing
The way the fast bowlers of the New Zealand team were getting fast in swing and out swing. Indian fast bowlers didn’t get that kind of help from the wicket. Mohammed Shami did take four wickets in the first innings, but he too got little help from the wicket. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson bowled as planned and trapped India’s batsmen one by one, but captain Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri’s plan did not work.
Catch dropped, match dropped
When Williamson and Taylor were taking the match completely away from India’s hands, India had a chance to take Taylor’s wicket in the 31st over, but he could not capitalize on it. On the fourth ball of this over of Bumrah, Taylor batted and the ball reached directly in the hands of Pujara standing at first slip, but he could not take the catch and Taylor got life. At that time Taylor was batting on 26 runs. India had little chance to bounce back as New Zealand then needed 55 runs to win, but the catch dashed the hopes. After this Williamson also got life in the 44th over. He lifted the fifth ball of this over of Shami and Bumrah dropped his catch on point. However, by then it was too late.
ineffective bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah suffered a stress fracture after the 2019 World Cup. After this he made a comeback at the end of the year 2019, but since then that edge has not been seen in his bowling. He has bowled in 15 innings of Test cricket since August 2019 and has picked up just 21 wickets. Even Jasprit Bumrah could not open the account of wickets in the final of the World Test Championship. He certainly had a chance in the second innings, but Cheteshwar Pujara could not catch the catch. Had Bumrah managed to take a few wickets, then the result of the match would have been different.