The sincerity and the commitments of the India side went in vain in the WTC final as New Zealand outcast at the Ageas Bowl
With this given defeat, the Indian skipper endured his third clobber in the ICC knockouts and finals.
India had frittered in the 2019 ICC world cup semi-finals against New Zealand under Virat Kohli’s leadership. A similar result was seen in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy against Pakistan skippered by Virat Kohli. The 32-year-old has been part of the three major tournaments but failed to assist India to cross the winning line.
What Lead To India’s Lackluster Eight Wicket Defeat In The WTC Final
Poor opening combinations
Both the teams had entered the arena with their full potential and strength neck-neck. Team selectors opted for Shubhman Gill despite having the likes of Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. The young lad elicited a mettlesome character during both the innings. Team India required a barricade in the form of openers in which Gill failed evidently.
Rohit Sharma despite having the luminous start Rohit was hunted with ease by the pacers, leaving Team India in a hollow state. Overdependence on Virat Kohli had put the Indian team in debris all the time, no batsmen failed to stand up against the fire-breathing Kiwi pacers. Due to the lack of batting depth and no combative defense game India was placed in the backseat rampantly.
Middle order’s melancholy
The batting pillar of the Indian team consisted of the top-five Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane were uprooted way earlier before either of these batters could bring out their game. The preeminent factor for a horrific loss as Team India failed to adjust to the set conditions at a faster pace. No Indian batsmen scored a fifty. Ajinkya Rahane’s 49 was the highest score in either inning.
The New Zealand batsmen, on the other hand, scored two fifties: Devon Conway (first innings) and Kane Williamson (second innings). The very last time India achieved this unwelcome feat was against England at Lord’s in 2018, and India had played 26 Tests between then and the WTC Final since then.
Inadequate bowling selection
While the New Zealand fast bowlers were enjoying the swinging condition Team India was witnessing a different horror story altogether. Indian pacers except for Mohammed Shami, the other of Team India failed to perform to their full zest. Indian playing 11 craved a fast-bowling all-rounder in the team and playing two-finger spinners backfired immensely to team India.
Ravichandran Ashwin managed to provide frequent breakthroughs as he became the highest wicket-taker in WTC with 71 scalps. Ishant Sharma just picked three wickets in the finals but whereas Jasprit Bumrah was crippled to find a single prey. As the poor bowling performance wasn’t effective enough to tame the ferocious New Zealand batsman, it infuriated the game for Team India.
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