WTC Final: India vs New Zealand, Stats Preview - Player records and approaching milestones

India and New Zealand are all set to meet in one of the most riveting clashes in Test cricket history. They will play the final match of the ICC World Test Championship from 18 to 22 June at the Rose Bowl ground in Southampton, England. Both the teams have strengthened their preparations for the important Test. However, after the victory of the New Zealand team in the Test series against England in this final match, their confidence must be high. This match may turn out to be the start of a new chapter in Test history.

Let’s look at all the important stats and numbers before the final of the World Test Championship between India and New Zealand:

Head to Head: Both teams have met in 59 Tests, in which 21 have been won by India. New Zealand have emerged victorious in 12 games while 26 have ended up in a draw.

5 – In the last 5 matches in ICC events, all matches have been won by New Zealand. This includes two matches of WTC, two matches of T20WC and the World Cup Semi-Final in 2019.  India last won against New Zealand in an ICC event in World Cup 2003.

2 – Only one player has won an ICC Trophy as captain both in U19 and senior level. Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed won the U 19 WC as captain in 2006 and Champions Trophy in 2017. Indian captain Virat Kohli will have a good chance to be included in this list with a win or draw in the final. Virat was the Indian skipper in their triumph in U19 WC 2008.

11 – This will be the 11th time India will be playing a final in ICC event going past Australia (10). This includes 2 matches for Champions Trophy 2002 when a different ODI was organised on reserve day due to rain on the first day.

4 – Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin has picked up 67 wickets in WTC till now. He needs 4 more wickets to go post Stuart Broad (69) and Pat Cummins (70) to become leading wicket-taker in the inaugural WTC.

5 – In terms of most sixes hit in WTC, Indian opener Rohit Sharma is at the second spot with 27 sixes after Ben Stokes (31). Rohit will need to hit 5 more sixes to take the first position.

4 – For India, Rohit Sharma slammed the most hundreds (4) in the World Test Championship. He will reach the joint-top spot alongside Marnus Labuschagne with a century in the final.

1 – Ishant Sharma has so far taken 199 wickets in away Test matches. He will become the third Indian pacer to complete 200 away wickets after Kapil Dev (215) and Zaheer Khan (207).

1 – There is a good chance that India might play both Ashwin and Jadeja along with pace trio of Bumrah, Ishant, Shami. If that happens, it will be the first time when these five prime bowlers of India will be playing together in a Test.

2 – Tim Southee has picked up 598 wickets across formats so far and is only 2 wickets away from the 600 wickets. He will be the first Kiwi pacer and second bowler after Daniel Vettori (705) to reach the landmark.

4 – Ross Taylor has scored 17996 runs in his international career and needs just 4 runs to complete 18000 runs in International cricket. He will be the first player from New Zealand to achieve the milestone.

200 – This will be the 200th International game for Trent Boult, and will become the 19th Kiwi player to reach the milestone.

9 – Ravi Ashwin has 409 wickets to his name in 78 matches played in Test cricket. He is 9 wickets away from surpassing Harbhajan Singh (417), and to reach the second spot after Anil Kumble (619) among Indian spinners.

61 – This will be the 61st Test for Virat Kohli as the Indian skipper going past MS Dhoni (60).

105  – Kane Williamson has scored 7895 runs as captain in international cricket so far. He needs 105 more runs to become second Kiwi captain after Stephen Fleming (11561) to reach the 8000-run mark. He will be the second captain after Virat Kohli (12343) to achieve the milestone among active players.