Dinesh Karthik believes it will be even-stevens in the World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand as both teams are playing in neutral conditions. Karthik says New Zealand’s advantage of playing two Test matches in England prior to the final will last only the first hour once the game starts and everything will be equal after that.

New Zealand reached England before Team India and played two-game Test series, which they won by 1-0. Hence, they will be coming in the final on the back of some game time and they must have settled down according to the English conditions.

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Meanwhile, India reached England in the first week of June and only played an intra-squad game before the all-important final, which will be played from June 18.

Karthik feels New Zealand’s advantage of playing two matches in England will last only one hour and Virat Kohli’s team will come with all guns blazing.

“India, like any other team would have preferred to play a match or two before the final. But the schedule is such that these are not luxuries that India can afford right now. Just to get into the country during the pandemic is a big effort in itself, a lot of people have found lots of avenues just to get a group of people in,” said Karthik on Salaam Cricket 2021.

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“So, let’s not dig deep into the fact that we can’t have the extra edge that New Zealand has but what we do have is that we have won more matches away than them. That is something that the Indian team can be really proud of and derive confidence from. And knowing this current set of players, they have a never-say-die attitude.”

“It’s all okay with all these familiarities till you walk in and when the first hour is done, it’s going to be evens-sevens. New Zealand, in the lead up to the game, will feel better because they have played a couple of games in England but I can promise you, once the Indian team gets on the park in the WTC Final, they will come all guns blazing,” he further added.