WTC is Virat Kohli’s biggest bid to win his first ICC trophy as captain

Indian cricket team, ever since they famously won the Champions Trophy in 2013, have not been able to get their hands on an ICC trophy. Since 2013, India has lost three semifinals and two finals in ICC tournaments. India, like in the previous tournaments, entered the World Test Championship (WTC) as favourites to lift the trophy. But under the leadership of Virat Kohli, can they finally break the final barrier?

India’s strength lies in bowling despite having some big names in the batting lineup. India has one of the best bowling lineups in the world. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s leader of the pace attack, has proved to be Kohli’s go-to bowler over the last three years, and even more so in overseas conditions. The lineup also lavishes bowlers such as Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. 

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With Ageas Bowl having a history of assisting the spinners, spin-twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could be the key for India’s victory in the WTC final.

India’s batting lineup with Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and Kohli, makes one of the best batting lineups on paper.

India’s famous victory in Gabba against Australia in January, with a depleted, young team, also emphasised the depth and quality of the team, and its potential to win big games.

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Kohli took over the captaincy of India in all formats in 2017. His two ICC tournaments as a captain, the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, ended in a final and semifinal loss respectively. 

But this time, with arguably the best side in the world, Kohli has the best opportunity to get his hands on the ICC trophy for the first time as a captain.