'I think India will come out on top on day five' - AB de Villiers ahead of WTC final

Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers reckoned that India has more chance of winning the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, which will begin on June 7 at The Oval in London. The Pat Cummins-led side will be playing their first final while India finished as the runners-up in the inaugural edition after suffering a defeat to New Zealand.

de Villiers has reckoned that it is quite difficult for him to choose a favourite for the WTC final, adding that both India and Australia have not been playing a lot of matches in the longest format in the game but India have the advantage as they defeated the powerful England team at The Oval in their last match. 

"Very difficult to say who are the favorites. Both teams have not been playing a lot of Test cricket of late but what I can say is that India in their last Test match at the Oval have got a win against this very strong England team. They will be taking a bit of confidence from that," de Villiers said while previewing the match on JioCinema.

The legendary wicketkeeper-batter expects India will come out on top on day five of the one-off Test. The 39-year-old went on to say that the Indian spinners will be crucial in the latter stages of the summit clash. 

"I think India will come out on top on day five of the Test match. I think it might go all the way. It's a good wicket to bat on but I think the Indian spinners will come into play in the latter stages of the Test match," the former cricketer added.

Everywhere Kohli has traveled, he wants to prove a point: AB de Villiers

When asked to choose an Indian batter who will have to do the heavy lifting, he picked Virat Kohli. He said that the former India batter has a point to prove wherever he plays. He added that he is eager to watch his close friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate perform well in England again. 

"I am just going to mention one and someone who has always been fired up with all these kind of series, especially in the UK and Australia. Everywhere he has traveled, he wants to prove a point - it's Virat Kohli. It's great to see him enjoy the game of cricket and I can't wait to see him do well in the UK again," the South African said.

He further stated that speedster Jasprit Bumrah's absence is a big loss for the Rohit Sharma-led side. He did, however, believe Mohammed Siraj will be instrumental in the Indian bowling attack in the one-off Test. 

"Bumrah is a big loss for the Indian bowling attack, but I do think that Mohammed Siraj is in the form of his life. He has done well there before. He has got that extra pace. He nips it around off-stump, and I think he is the biggest asset in India's bowling attack," he concluded.