Captain Virat Kohli said India were “relieved” to make it to the finals of the World Test Championship and will now focus on “a big game” against England in June against New Zealand. India routed Joe Root’s team 3–1 in the fourth Test match being played in Ahmedabad on Saturday. India led the standings until November, when the Coronovirus epidemic caused a disruption in the points system due to the disruption brought to Australia to take the top spot.
The new system, based on percentage rather than total points, left India with the daunting task of needing to win the home Test series against Australia and England to make it to the finals.
“We are relieved that we have now made it to the finals,” Kohli told BCCI TV.
“Maybe if you look at how we have played in the last two and a half years, we deserve to reach that final.
“Now just coming back together as a group and focusing on that one big game is exciting enough for all of us.”
New Zealand’s berth in the final was secured when the Test series between South Africa and Australia was postponed last month.
Overcome adversity
Kohli said that the championship race was only a “distraction” for his team, which needed no further encouragement to win the Test match.
India bounced back from losing twice in a four-match series to defeat Australia 2–1 and England 3–1, throwing new heroes in each game, especially wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh. Pant.
The left-handed Pant, who played an important role in the win-down Under in January, scored 101 runs on Friday to win India’s latest innings and 25 runs.
Paes bowler Mohammad Siraj, all-rounder Washington Sundar and spinner Axar Patel also came into the side making an immediate impact.
India bounced out for a Test low of 36 to lose the series opener in Adelaide, including the departure of Virat Kohli on paternity leave and leveling the series in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne due to injury to senior players . .
India suffered a surprise defeat for the first time to Australia to win a 32-year series at the Gabba ground in Brisbane before a draw in Sydney.
“We played cricket well in India, we played good cricket outside India as well,” senior batsman Rohit Sharma said.
“We were put under pressure, we were put in that difficult position many times and we responded well. That’s why we qualified for the finals here.”
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that for players like himself and fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who mostly play in Tests, the final is “really like the World Cup”.
Promoted
The ICC had initially announced that the final would be played at Lord’s in June.
But the Times of India reported on Saturday, citing ICC sources, that the clash from June 18 could be moved to a different location.
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