Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons India will qualify for the World Test Championship final against Australia. India needs to win the ongoing fourth Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad in order to seal their berth for the WTC Final.
If Australia wins the final Test and draw the series 2-2, Sri Lanka will have to clean sweep (2-0) New Zealand while playing in New Zealand in order to qualify for the final. However, Manrekar feels Sri Lanka is incapable of upsetting New Zealand while playing away from home.
In fact, Sri Lanka has made a good start to their New Zealand tour as they scored 305-6 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test match. On the other hand, Australia was able to put themselves in front as they scored 255-4 before stumps on the opening day of the fourth Test against India.
“It’s a great setting when people are there, every seat was taken. World Test Championship takes for India, on the verge of getting there. I think India will get there. I don’t think Sri Lanka are capable of upsetting New Zealand,” Manjrekar told Star Sports.
“So I believe, India are already in the final. But, you still have to actually, you know, officially get there. So that tension was there. Plus the series hanging the way it has, Australia making that brilliant comeback in Indore and plus a figure like Narendra Modi at the ground. That buzz was there. Every box was ticked before the start of this Test,” he added.
India was dominant in the first two Test matches against Australia but the home team didn’t bat well in the third Test match at Indore. The hosts were skittled out for 109 runs in the first innings and it was always going to be a herculean task for them to bounce back into the game after they conceded an 88-run lead in the first innings.
The WTC Final will be played at the Oval from June 7 to 11.
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