ICC World Test Championship Final: India Likely To Take An Extended Squad And Play Intra-Squad Practice Games In England

India and New Zealand will face off in a much-anticipated ICC World Test Championship final later in June in Southampton. New Zealand was the first team to reach the tournament-decider, followed by India, who made it after beating England at home recently. With only two months left for the big stage, the planning has already begun and the men in blue could take an extended squad for the same.

Only England stood in India’s way for reaching the ICC World Test Championship’s final as they made a strong statement after winning the first of the four Tests comprehensively. But Virat Kohli’s men sparked a remarkable turnaround to beat England by 3-1 and seal their place in the final. Following that, the ICC shifted the final’s venue from Southampton to Lord’s.

After the ongoing ODI series against England, India’s focus shifts to IPL 2021 to follow with the ICC World Test Championship. Nevertheless, the number one Test team faces a tricky situation, with no practice games before the grandest stage. Thus, the Indian team plans to name an extended squad for the event alongside organizing intra-squad matches to acclimatize themselves to the conditions.

Both India and New Zealand will stay in the same hotel: Hampshire Cricket Chairman

Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rod Bransgrove stated that it emerged India would be drafting a jumbo squad and would organize their own practice matches ahead of the final. Bransgrove announced that both sides will stay at the same hotel, albeit in different floors and thinks that 170 rooms would be enough to accommodate them.

“As far as I know there are no practice games organized. I understand that they (India) are bringing in a lot of players to the hotel and they will be organizing their own practice games. Both teams will stay at the same hotel, albeit on different floors. We have 170 rooms in that hotel and accommodating the two teams is not a problem,” Bransgrove said as quoted by Times Now.

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