Former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar reckons that the Indian cricket team cannot afford to take New Zealand lightly when the two sides meet in the World Test Championship Final in Southampton in June. Agarkar believes New Zealand are no longer the underdogs in world cricket.
Following a gruelling and testing two-year cycle, India and New Zealand have managed to qualify for the WTC Final which is set to begin from June 18. Ahead of the final, the Black Caps will take on England in a two-match Test series which begins on June 2. The first Test will be held at Lord’s whereas the second match will be held at Edgbaston. This will give New Zealand the opportunity to acclimatize to the English conditions unlike India who will fly to Southampton on June 3 and face New Zealand directly in the final.
During Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, Ajit Agarkar stressed that India should not underestimate New Zealand and believes that the team needs to bring their A-game if they wish to win the ICC World Test Championship.
“I hope not. I don’t think the Indian team would be guilty to underestimate them [New Zealand]. I think the underdog tag has gone away from New Zealand. Every ICC tournament you look at – okay, this is the first of its kind, Test championship – every ICC tournament, whether it’s the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, the World Cup; they always turn up, they’re always there in the thereabout.
“If not the finals, then in the quarterfinals or the semi-finals. And that’s a testament to their consistency. So, the underdog tag should go. Yes, there are, perhaps bigger names in some of the other teams and that’s why you count them as favourites,” Agarkar said.
He further mentioned that the last time India took on New Zealand during the World Test Championship, they were defeated. The conditions in England will also be similar to New Zealand.
“So, I don’t think India will be underestimating them. They beat India comprehensively well when India toured New Zealand and the conditions are likely to be very similar to what India got in New Zealand. So, India will have to play well to beat New Zealand in this contest,” he concluded.
