ICC WTC Final 2021: Sunil Gavaskar Urges ICC To Find A Formula To Decide A Clear Winner In Case Of A Rain Affected Draw

The much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand has turned into a damp squib with persistent rain in Southampton playing spoilsport.

The first day of the WTC final was washed out due to rain and while we did get play on the 2nd and 3rd day, we still lost plenty of overs due to bad light.

And, now with the 4th day set to be a complete washout,  we are now left with just 2 days (including a reserve day) to try and get a result.

But, with 12 wickets falling across two days of play, it will take an incredible collapse from either team to force a result.

In case, the WTC final ends in a draw, the mace will be shared between India and New Zealand.

Former Indian opener-turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar believes that ICC ought to find a formula to decide a clear winner of the WTC in case of a rain-affected draw.

Speaking on Aaj Tak, Gavaskar gave a reference to the 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand where the winner was decided on boundary count after the actual game and the Super Over ended in a tie.

“They ought to find a way to decide a winner in case of a drawn WTC final. We saw in the 2019 World Cup final where the team that hit the most number of boundaries was declared the winner,” said Gavaskar.

“When the ICC World Test Championship was announced, the total points were set to be taken into consideration but they changed the goal post and reverted to the percentage points system after the pandemic. So, the ICC committee should sit and devise an appropriate formula to decide a clear winner of the World Test Championship in case of a rain affected draw” he added.

BREAKING / @aajtak Exclusive: Sunil Gavaskar feels the @ICC ought to have devised a formula to pick a winner in case of a Drawn WTC Final. Suggests playing another Test as WTC Final after a gap of 3-4 days since both the teams can be in England #IndvsNZ #WTCFinals https://t.co/rdeibwSHaX

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) June 21, 2021

As far as the situation of the game is concerned, India were bowled out for 217 in their first innings. And, in response, New Zealand were 2/101 at the close of play on day 03.

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