Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has had his view on New Zealand playing two Test matches against England in the build-up to the WTC final. Ahead of the WTC final against India, New Zealand plays two Test matches against England from at Lord’s and Edgbaston from June 2 and June 10 respectively. On the other hand, India will head into the final straightway after reaching the UK. 

Sunil Gavaskar has countered the point of the Kiwis being better adjusted with the conditions than the Indian team. The Kiwi team will have to enter another bio-secure environment before the World Test Championship final from June 15 and will be subject to regular testing prior to and post-arrival in Southampton. Gavaskar believes that if the Kiwis lose both the games they will be less motivated heading into the big final.  

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New Zealand Could Lose Their Moral If Beaten: Sunil Gavaskar

“The flip side of playing those two Tests is that New Zealand could get beaten and thus be low on morale when they take on India and there could be some injuries and niggles to some of their key players which can happen in early June in England,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

Sunil Gavaskar further suggested that the Indian team will be fresh for the big game having got proper rest after the suspension of the IPL. He said that they will be raring to go for the game.”

“The other factor that will work in the Indian team’s favor is that they will be fresh and raring to go and that sheer energy and enthusiasm to be able to play the sport they love after a month’s gap will more than makeup for any lack of match practice,” Gavaskar wrote.

He concluded by saying that the Indian team has been playing together as a unit for some time and they would use any adversity as an opportunity and motivate them to perform to their full potential. 

“This is a team that has tasted success and that too in adverse circumstances, so any adversity will be looked upon as an opportunity to show they have the gumption to rise above it and conquer it,” he signed off.

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