How Can India Beat the Kiwis in the WTC Final

Mohan Vanamisetty, Perth, Western Australia

New Zealand are favorites to win in the pre-match build-up and that is not a bad thing from an Indian perspective. If India plays to their potential, they can beat New Zealand.

India’s nemesis

Despite the recent successes in Australia, India continues to struggle in three of the four SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. They have not done well against New Zealand, having lost the last test series two-nil. That was perhaps the worst performance under Virat Kohli.

Batting woes

India could only manage scores of 165, 191, 242, and 124 in the two tests at Wellington and Christchurch. New Zealand had the toss advantage on tailor-made wickets. The one-sided nature of that contest and lack of fight was most disappointing. Better was expected from the world’s number one test team.

Expect a shaky start and plan for it

Rohit had some great knocks against England at home but his record against the moving ball is not great. For a player of his talent and calibre he is yet to score a test hundred in SENA countries.

Young Shubman Gill played outstandingly in Australia and scored freely against a formidable Aussie pace attack and is being hailed as the next big thing in Indian Cricket. However, he tends to play away from the body outside the off-stump and does not get behind the ball, which in theory makes him vulnerable against outswing bowlers like Tim Southie.

Despite their success and pedigree, there are genuine doubts about the reliability of both the openers against a skilled and varied attack like New Zealand in English conditions. They are the best available option and hence will play. A shaky start and loss of early wickets is therefore a distinct possibility. The team management must consider and plan accordingly.

Include Jadeja and Ashwin in XI

There is the likelihood of Vihari coming in place of one of Jadeja/Ashwin. It will be difficult to leave out Jadeja, who of late has blossomed into a genuine test allrounder and is easily the best fielder in both teams. Ashwin is the better bowler of the two in my view, and I suspect NZ batsmen will prefer to face Jadeja over Ashwin. It’s a tricky selection issue and my preference will be to go for a five-bowler combination and leave out Vihari.

Preferred team

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bumrah, Shami and Siraj. Ishant Sharma in place of one of the three pace bowlers is also a possibility. Siraj has proven himself at every opportunity and hence gets my vote.

Neutralize the first 10 to 15 overs by using pinch hitters or tailenders if required

The first 10 to 15 overs in India batting against the expert swing bowlers will have a decisive bearing on the outcome of this test. That applies to both innings. If India does lose quick wickets, they cannot afford to let NZ take the initiative by adopting ultra-defensive tactics through a dogged Pujara. That will be playing straight into the opposition’s hands. That’s what happened in the last series in NZ. If they do lose a quick wicket or two at the top as is likely to happen, they should send a pinch hitter, most preferably the lefthanded Jadeja, and give him a free hand to disrupt the rhythm of the New Zealanders. The ploy is to prevent exposure of the top order to the new ball as much as possible. Another option is to send your number 10 or 11 at first drop to consume and waste a few overs of the swinging new ball.

Best bowling attack in the world

India has arguably the best bowling attack in world cricket now. Bumrah, Siraj hoping he will figure in the XI, and Shami is a potent combination. They will test any batting line-up in world cricket. They will be backed up by two outstanding spinners in Ashwin and Jadeja. New Zealand batsmen have applied themselves brilliantly in the test series against England. It won’t be easy to post big totals against this Indian attack. There are quite a few left-handers in the NZ lineup, and they will find Ashwin especially challenging. I believe India has the firepower to contain this NZ batting side. That is why, if they can manage to post a decent score, they will fancy their chances.

Conclusion

New Zealand will go into the WTC final with all the advantages. However, the Virat Kohli-led Indian side is oozing with talent and match winners and has the wherewithal to overcome the spirited Kiwis if they play to their potential. A billion Indian fans will be praying they do. A WTC final win is the best gift that the men in blue can give to a Corona-ravaged nation.