Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh opined that New Zealand were a far better side than team India during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final. He mentioned that the Kiwis deservedly won the all-important clash.
The Kane Williamson-led side beat Virat Kohli’s men comfortably by eight wickets to clinch the maiden WTC title at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. Williamson, alongside Ross Taylor, stitched a match-winning partnership of 96 runs to take the game away from the Indians. Pace bowling all-rounder Kyle Jamieson won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his brilliant performance in the final.
Singh highlighted that the Blackcaps won a crucial toss and dominated the game from thereon.
“New Zealand played far better than team India and they deserve to be champions. They bowled beautifully, it was a crucial toss to win and they won it. From there onwards, they were in the driver’s seat. They got India out for 217 and then very cheaply in the second innings,” Harbhajan Singh told India Today.
‘Playing two Test matches against England benefitted them’: Harbhajan Singh
The 40-year-old asserted that New Zealand’s two-match Test series against England in the English conditions made them look more comfortable at the WTC Final.
NZ won the series 1-0 which definitely boosted their morale ahead of this much-awaited clash. On the other hand, India played just a solitary intra-squad match prior to the ICC event. He further added that playing among each other never produces an intense game, unlike a County match.
“It benefited them, being there in England, playing those two Test matches. They understood those conditions better than the Indians. They were deserving candidates,” Harbhajan Singh said.
“When you play among each other, it’s never that kind of intense games. But when you play against a County side, you will play at your best and you know what needs to be done to win those games. India could have definitely gone a little earlier,” the 40-year-old added.
After a gap of more than a month from now, team India will play a five-match Test series against the Joe Root-led England.
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