WTC final: Ajit Agarkar reckons India must not underestimate New Zealand

Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar feels that India must not underestimate their World Test Championship opponents, New Zealand, as they are no longer the underdogs. After a gruelling two-year- cycle, both the teams have managed to qualify for the inaugural edition’s final, which is set to be played between June 18-22 at Southampton.

New Zealand has an opportunity to prepare for the summit clash as they will be up against England in a two-Test series starting from June 2 at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium, followed by the second Test at Edgbaston. Unlike them, India will not have any chance to prepare, given they will fly to Southampton on June 3 in a charter flight and will face off New Zealand directly on June 18.

Currently, the Indian team members are under a hard quarantine in a Mumbai facility arranged by the BCCI. They will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine upon their arrival in Southampton, during which players can train and practice inside the bio-bubble created by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

India will have to play well to beat New Zealand: Ajit Agarkar 

Weighing in his opinion on the marquee clash, Ajit Agarkar, during Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, stated that India will have to be at their best to fight New Zealand.

“I hope not. I don’t think the Indian team would be guilty to underestimate them [New Zealand]. I think the underdog tag has gone away from New Zealand. Every ICC tournament you look at – okay, this is the first of its kind, Test championship – every ICC tournament, whether it’s the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, the World Cup; they always turn up, they’re always there in the thereabout.”

“If not the finals, then in the quarterfinals or the semi-finals. And that’s a testament to their consistency. So, the underdog tag should go. Yes, there are, perhaps bigger names in some of the other teams and that’s why you count them as favourites.” Agarkar said.

“So, I don’t think India will be underestimating them. They beat India comprehensively well when India toured New Zealand and the conditions are likely to be very similar to what India got in New Zealand. So, India will have to play well to beat New Zealand in this contest,” he added.