We Have To Be On Top Of Our Game - Tim Southee Talks About India's "Dangerous Batting Line-Up" Ahead Of WTC Final

Senior New Zealand pacer Tim Southee lavishes rich praises on the “dangerous” batting line-up of their opposition, India, on Friday in the World Test Championship final taking place in Southampton.

Tim Southee, who recently picked a six-wicket innings haul against England at Lord’s, says that India opener Rohit Sharma is a “tremendous player” across formats, and has the ability to modify the game situation on his own; he hailed the opposing skipper, Virat Kohli, as a “modern-day greats” and one of the finest batter in the world.

The 32-year-old is in awe of the young, emerging talents – such as the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill – in India’s “exciting” batting line-up. The experienced seamer understands the Kiwi bowlers have to be at their best when they bowl to the Indian batters in the marquee clash.

“Rohit is a tremendous player in all three formats. He’s personally a guy I like watching bat. He can take the game away from the opposition. But I know as a bowling group that it’s a dangerous batting line-up throughout. For he’s only one of many, many very good batters in this line-up and we know we’re going to have to be on top of our game,” Tim Southee said in a virtual press conference.

“It’s an exciting batting line-up, a mix of experienced guys and a couple of young guys who are coming to play with that freedom and the excitement that they have. Nowadays, there’s plenty of footage out. So, we will discuss footage and then come up with plans which will hopefully work.

“As a player, you want to test yourself against the best and Virat is one of the best players going around, he is one of the modern-day greats. There are many dangerous players in this Indian team. We need to be on the top of our game,” he added.

Don’t think you can read too much into the last series we played: Tim Southee

Tim Southee is New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in the WTC cycle with 51 scalps to his name at 20.66 apiece in 10 Tests. He was also the leading wicket-taker in the home 2-match Test series against India, which the Kiwis won and which was the only series defeat for India in the WTC cycle.

Tim Southee, however, reckons that series result would have no bearing on the WTC final, which will be played at a neutral venue.

“It is a one-off Test match and this is the final, we will be playing at a neutral venue. I do not think you can read too much into the last series we played against India,” he opined.

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