With the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand is set to take place next month in England, everyone started predicting the result. And, former India cricketer turned renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has also predicted the result as well. He has said that a full-strength India squad that could not defeat New Zealand in their last tour of 2020 and it will be difficult this time too in Southampton.

However, his comments came as New Zealand will play a two-match Test series against England before the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final which will start from June 2 at Lord’s as well.

“Don’t rule India out but it is 55-45 in favor of New Zealand. Although they are No.2 in the Test rankings and play well at home when we talk about Southampton, they can play slightly better than us in these conditions in the first half of the English summer,” Aakash Chopra said.

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“They [New Zealand] would have already played two Tests there. So, there is a slight difference. The heart is Indian and will say that we will defeat them but we are not able to go to New Zealand and defeat them. It’s a fact, we didn’t defeat them now as well. The team which won in Australia had lost in New Zealand while it was almost a full-strength side in New Zealand. There could be problems in Southampton as well,” he further added.

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It is also noteworthy that, India had lost the first Test in Wellington by 10 wickets and then in Christchurch by 7 wickets as well. However, during the same tour, New Zealand was whitewashed in the T20I series, before they had returned the favour in the 50-overs format as well.

Notably, Indian players are currently in quarantine in Mumbai before they leave for the UK on June 2 where they will complete another 10-day quarantine in Southampton. Meanwhile, the WTC final will begin on June 18 at the Rose Bowl as well.