Former Indian captain turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar pointed out the downside of New Zealand playing a two-match Test series ahead of the all-important, inaugural WTC final to be played between India and New Zealand.
New Zealand is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against England from June 2. It is followed by the ICC WTC Final against India from June 18-22, both to be played in England.
Sunil Gavaskar the first man to 10,000 Test runs wrote in his column in The Telegraph, that surely New Zealand has an edge over India, as they will be more efficiently acclimatized to the English conditions but at the same time pointed out the flip side of it.
“The pessimists are suggesting that playing two Tests before the WTC finals will be a huge plus for the Kiwis as they will be match ready and better acclimatized to the conditions,” Gavaskar observed.
“The flip side of playing those two Tests is that New Zealand could get beaten and thus below on morale when they take on India and there could be some injuries and niggles to some of their key players which can happen in early June in England,” he pointed out.
Gavaskar also explained how the Indian Team would be fresh to play. He highlighted India’s gritty and confident performance Down Under in Australia earlier this year hinting at India’s quality of overcoming the adversities coming their way.
“The other factor that will work in the Indian team’s favor is that they will be fresh and raring to go and that sheer energy and enthusiasm to be able to play the sport they love after a month’s gap will more than make up for any lack of match practice,” Gavaskar explained.
“This is a team that has tasted success and that too in adverse circumstances, so any adversity will be looked upon as an opportunity to show they have the gumption to rise above it and conquer it,” Gavaskar concluded.
Read More
England and New Zealand will play first of the two-match Test series from June 2 to 6. The second Test match is scheduled from June 10 to 14.
