WTC Final: Better team won in the conditions – Ravi Shastri lauds New Zealand

India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has heaped praise on New Zealand for coming out as winners in the World Test Championship final against India at Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The Kiwis won the WTC final by eight wickets as they came up with a collective effort.

Shastri congratulated Kane Williamson’s led team and stated that a better team won in the conditions. New Zealand were able to get acclimatise to English conditions as they played two Test matches against England before the big finale.

Meanwhile, the summit clash was evenly poised till the last day of the game. India lost three wickets in the opening session of the reserve day and it was a turning point of the game as Kohli and Pujara were dismissed in quick succession.

Ravi Shastri wrote in his Tweet, “Better team won in the conditions. Deserved winners after the longest wait for a World Title. Classic example of Big things don’t come easy. Well played, New Zealand. Respect”.

On the other hand, India’s batting was not up to the mark as they were dismissed for 217 in the first innings and could only manage 170 runs in the second dig. New Zealand fast bowlers were right on money and didn’t give an inch to the Indian batsmen.

Kyle Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped seven wickets in the match. Jamieson returned with figures of 5/31 in the first innings and also scalped two wickets in the second essay. The lanky fast bowler was able to dismiss Virat Kohli in both the innings of the match.

Furthermore, Tim Southee took a four-wicket haul in the second innings and also scored 30 runs in the first essay. In fact, there wasn’t much help from the surface in the second innings but the Kiwi bowlers bowled their hearts out and reaped the rewards for their accurate bowling.