The final of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship is looming large. India and New Zealand, the top two Test teams in the world, will face off in a mouth-watering clash at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
The teams have had contrasting paths to the final. New Zealand, on one hand, have crushed visiting teams at home and sailed through with barely a scratch. On the other hand, India were battered and bruised before making a comeback for the ages at the Gabba. Later on, they defeated England 3-1 at home to finish at the top of the points table.
Now that we’re just 14 days away from the magical finale, we take a look at the 5 players who can have the biggest impact in ICC World Test Championship final:
1) Rishabh Pant
This goes without saying but the journey that the young Delhiite has been through is nothing short of a fairytale. Mocked and put down for his keeping skills and inconsistency with the bat, Rishabh Pant scripted India’s historic comeback in the series down under against Australia.
Ever since that performance, he has been put on a high pedestal by the fans, and rightly so. The unorthodox shot-maker, known for his antics behind the stump, has an aggregate of 1358 in 33 innings in Tests with an average in the high 40’s.
He has the ability to change the game in a session. Pant’s pyrotechnics on the field are unmatched when he’s in full flow. The southpaw finished the 4-Test series against England as the third-highest run-getter with 270 runs, including a hundred in the final Test.
“He is a genuine match-winner and he has responded. He has worked like hell over the last 3-4 months and the results are showing,” coach Ravi Shastri had said after the England series.
2) Kyle Jamieson
The lanky 6′ 8″ fast bowler from Auckland, Kyle Jamieson, has been nothing but an asset in recent times for New Zealand. When India visited New Zealand back in 2020 for a full-fledged series, the pacer troubled the Indian batsmen the most.
He picked 9 wickets in the series, including a fifer that left India in shambles. He also played two vital innings in the lower order, with scores of 44 and 49, which proved to shift momentum in those games. Jamieson was most recently bought by RCB in the IPL for a whopping 15cr.
Although he wasn’t able to justify his price tag in the IPL, the longer format will bring out the best in him. Jamieson’s ability to generate extra bounce will be the asset New Zealand will be depending on in the final. India will need to negotiate Jamieson if they are to have a chance in the World Test Championship final.
3) Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja ranks second on the ICC list of all-rounders, behind England’s ace cricketer Ben Stokes. The all-rounder from Saurashtra is well known for his prowess in the fielding department.
However, one thing that cannot be underestimated, is his contribution in the lower order. Ravindra Jadeja averages 55.57 in Tests for India since 2018. This is the highest among all Indians, with Rohit Sharma coming in second with an average of 52.78.
He is one of only 3 cricketers who average 35+ with the bat and have a bowling average less than 25 in the longest format. Jadeja, who has a best of 7/48, can wreak havoc in the New Zealand ranks along with Ashwin, regardless of the conditions.
One could say Jadeja is probably in the form of his life, considering all the 3 departments. And rightfully so.
4) Devon Conway
Ever since making his debut, Conway has been on the rise for the Black Caps. After making an impact in the limited-overs format, Devon now looks set to establish himself at the top of the order in the longest format.
His technique is well suited to Test cricket. Also possessing all the shots in the book is an added advantage. Having already adapted to the English conditions in a short time, the only thing he needs to do is maintain consistency.
Conway recently gave a glimpse of his skills against England in the first Test. He registered a double ton on debut at Lord’s. He was on course to become the first player in history to carry the bat through in their debut innings. Conway was only the seventh batsman to make a double hundred on Test debut.
The southpaw will look to make the most on the ICC World Test Championship final against a top team like India.
5) Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah needs no introduction. He has come a long way from being the guy with a weird action to becoming the biggest asset for captain Kohli. He can bring his limited-overs repertoire to the longest format. The slower ball, the yorkers, he has them all.
He is the first Asian bowler to take 5 wickets in a Test innings in South Africa, England, and Australia during the same calendar year. The legendary pacer Wasim Akram had this to say about him,
“Jasprit Bumrah has the best and the most effective yorker among fast bowlers playing international cricket now.”
Bumrah is quite familiar with the English conditions. In the 1-4 defeat to England back in 2018, Jasprit Bumrah claimed a 5-wicket hall, with figures of 5/85 that propelled India to a 203-run win. If anyone can exploit the favorable conditions on offer in England, it’s Bumrah.
India will bank heavily on Bumrah in the ICC World Test Championship final.