WTC winner, India or New Zealand? Australian captain has his say

The inaugural World Test Championship is all set to start from June 18 with both India and New Zealand raring to lift the elusive title and script history. While New Zealand completed a series win over England ahead of the championship, the Indian cricket team is undergoing intra-squad warm-up matches to get in the groove.

Critics from the cricketing fraternity are placing their respective bet on which team will win the inaugural WTC. Joining the bandwagon, Australian captain Tim Pain, during a press conference, said, “My prediction is India will win pretty comfortably if they play anywhere near their best.”

India, led by its captain Virat Kohli, landed in the United Kingdom on June 3. Before leaving for the UK, the entire team was under quarantine for 14 days. After reaching the hotel, the players also spent time in isolation before they took the field.

The New Zealand squad, on the other hand, arrived in the UK on June 2. Before the WTC, they will be undergoing routine testing.

The World Test Cricket Championship final was initially scheduled to be held at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, but the location was changed as the ICC responded to the pandemic.

The Ageas Bowl — or the Hampshire Bowl — which is the current location of the final, was opened in 2001 and hosted Test cricket for the first time in 2011.