I Would Have Preferred More Than Just One Match To Decide WTC Final: Kapil Dev

Former Indian captain and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has reckoned that a best of three finals would have been ideal to decide the winner of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand instead of a stand-alone Test.

The much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final will see the No.1 ranked Test side, India, lock horns with New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Besides suggesting a best of three final to decide the winner, Kapil Dev also said that he would have liked the summit clash to take place either at the ‘Home of Cricket’ Lord’s or Old Trafford, Manchester because of the history attached with the aforementioned stadiums.

The World Test Championship final was originally supposed to take place at Lord’s but it was later shifted to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton because the latter boasts of a hotel inside the stadium

‘’I would have preferred more than just one match to decide such an important title. Of course, these days it is not a big thing to prepare for a match. It helps to play a few matches in those conditions but that can’t be an excuse. Maybe, Lord’s would have a better venue than Rose Bowl because the ground has great history. Even Manchester [Old Trafford] would have been a good choice but there is something about celebrating a win at Lord’s.” Kapil Dev told Mid-Day.

The World Test Championship has given much-needed context to the longest format and Kapil Dev has thrown his support behind the idea.

”Why not? It is something the ICC has done to popularise Test matches. There will be good cricket for the public, I am sure. I feel three-Test finals would have been great.” added Kapil Dev.

‘How Indian batsmen tackle the conditions is important’- Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev led India to its second-ever Test series win on English soil in 1986 and for Kohli’s team to achieve the same success this upcoming summer, their batting unit will have to find a way to counter the Dukes’ ball and the swinging-seaming English conditions.

Dev reckoned that the key to doing well in England where the conditions can change pretty quickly is to approach the game session by session.

He also added that India’s batting will be the key to their fortunes in the WTC final and the succeeding five-match Test series against England.

”Test cricket is about sessions. Each can be intriguing because of the weather factor. Within minutes, it changes from sunny to cloudy. So you have to be tactically good and technically sound when you play in England.” said Kapil Dev.

I won’t say batsmen are better than the bowlers. You have to have a balance. India look a superior batting side. How they tackle the conditions is important. To me, India’s batting will hold the key. The bowlers provide a solid back-up to India’s cricket campaigns these days but the quality of batsmen will stand out in the final.” he added.

Also Read: It’s A Dream For All Of Us To Win The World Test Championship: Cheteshwar Pujara