New Zealand registered a thrashing 8-wicket win over India and pulled off a win in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday. With just three runs needed for the win, Ross Taylor smashed Mohammed Shami towards the square-leg fence for a boundary to wrap up the win for New Zealand.
Ross Taylor remained unbeaten on 47 while New Zealand skipper was not out on 52 as the Kiwis chased down the target of 139 runs with eight wickets in hand.
It was another heartbreak for the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli under whom India suffered another defeat in a big ICC knockout game. Previously, India suffered a loss in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 and the semi-final of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 with Kohli as the captain of the side.
ALSO READ: ICC Shares New Zealand Dressing Room Celebrations After WTC Final Win
Tweeting about the game, legendary Indian cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar wrote, “Congrats @BLACKCAPS on winning the #WTC21. You were the superior team. #TeamIndia will be disappointed with their performance. As I had mentioned the first 10 overs will be crucial & lost both Kohli & Pujara in the space of 10 balls & which put a lot of pressure on the team,” the former Indian skipper wrote.
Congrats @BLACKCAPS on winning the #WTC21. You were the superior team.#TeamIndia will be disappointed with their performance.
As I had mentioned the first 10 overs will be crucial & 🇮🇳 lost both Kohli & Pujara in the space of 10 balls & that put a lot of pressure on the team. pic.twitter.com/YVwnRGJXXr
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 23, 2021
Sachin Tendulkar reckons that losing Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the span of ten balls on the last day was the biggest setback for the Indian team. India started the reserve day with an overnight score of 64 for two and were hoping to put up a total of somewhere around 200 for the NZ team.
In the match, India got bundled out for 217 after being sent in to bat by Kane Williamson after the first day’s play was washed out due to rain in Southampton. Rain again made its presence felt in the summit clash as even on Day 4 the play was called off without delivering a single ball.
ALSO READ: Shikhar Dhawan Aces The Latest Challenge In Social Media
New Zealand posted 249 runs in their first innings, taking a lead of 32 runs. In reply, India suffered a dramatic collapse on the final day of the match and was bundled out for 170. Chasing 139 for the win, Williamson and Taylor steered their team home comfortably as New Zealand won their first major ICC trophy.
