AHMEDABAD, India, March 7, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Skipper Virat Kohli said India
were “relieved” to make the inaugural World Test Championship final and would
now focus on that “one big game” against New Zealand in June after seeing off
England.
India crushed Joe Root’s side inside three days in the fourth Test in
Ahmedabad on Saturday to clinch the series 3-1 and finish top of the Test
Championship table ahead of New Zealand.
India had led the standings until November, when a change in the points
system because of disruption brought by the coronavirus pandemic promoted
Australia to top spot.
The new system, based on percentage of points instead of total points,
left India with the daunting task of needing to win Test series away in
Australia and at home against England to make the final.
“We are relieved that now we have made it to the final,” Kohli told Board
of Control for Cricket in India TV.
“Probably if you look at the last two-and-half years how we have played,
we deserve to be in that final.
“Now it’s just about getting together as a group again and focusing on
that one big game which is quite exciting 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.
– Overcoming adversity –
Kohli had maintained that the championship race was merely a “distraction”
for his team, who did not need any further incentive to win Test matches.
India twice bounced back from opening losses in four-match series to beat
Australia 2-1 and England 3-1, with each game throwing up new heroes, notably
wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
The left-handed Pant, who played a key part in the win Down Under in
January, hit 101 on Friday to set up India’s latest victory by an innings and
25 runs.
Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, all-rounder Washington Sundar and spinner Axar
Patel also burst into the side making an immediate impact.
India overcame adversity, including being bundled out for a Test low of 36
to lose the series opener in Adelaide, the departure of Virat Kohli on
paternity leave and a succession of injuries to senior players, to level the
series in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
A draw in Sydney followed before a patched-up India inflicted an
astonishing first Test defeat on Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba ground for 32
years to win the series.
“We played cricket well in India, we played cricket well outside India as
well,” senior batsman Rohit Sharma said.
“We were put under pressure, we were put in that difficult situation many
a time and we responded well which is why we stand here qualified for the
final.”
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that for players like himself and fast
bowler Ishant Sharma, who mostly feature in Tests, the final is “like
literally the World Cup”.
The International Cricket Council had initially announced that the final
will be played at Lord’s in June.
But the Times of India, citing ICC sources, reported Saturday that the
clash scheduled from June 18 could be moved to a different venue.