The World Test Championship final finally started at Ageas Bowl on the second day after Day 1 was washed away by the rain. Virat Kohli was again unlucky with the toss and Team India was invited by Kane Williamson and company to bat first in the overcast conditions at Southampton.
The experienced pace attack of Blackcaps consisting of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, and Colin De Grandhomme was expected to give tough time to the Indian openers, in which they were unsuccessful as the batters did a really good job providing a decent start to the team.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had a partnership of 62 runs and they were looking great together until Jamieson came and dismissed Rohit at the score of 34 and just after some time Neil Wagner got the wicket of Gill, Indian openers went back to the pavilion just before lunch.
That's Lunch on Day 2 of the #WTC21 Final!
6⃣9⃣ runs for #TeamIndia in the opening session
2⃣ wickets for New ZealandThe second session shall commene soon.
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/CmrtWscFua pic.twitter.com/2LCZoHt48R
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2021
However, The duo impressed former England skipper Nasser Hussain, as he mentioned that he ‘can’t remember India have had openers that have played the short balls better than these two.’
“I was just about to tweet that the Indian openers are giving a masterclass on how to bat in England conditions but they both got out. They played beautifully,” Hussain said during the post-lunch show on Star Sports.
“Can’t remember India have had openers that have played the short balls better than these two. So they can’t be bullied by the short-ball and technically very sound. With the England tour coming up after this, it was an important inning by Shubman Gill,” he added.
The 53-year-old Nasser Hussain proceeded to praise Young Shubman Gill for his excellent performance against NZ in the WTC final.
“Balance and calm. You think he has been batting in England all his life. Openers gave a masterclass, they have obviously spoken to Virat as he made those changes in his two previous tours. India obviously have had a chat about getting to the ball before it swings,” he concluded.
