On Wednesday, Team India departed for England, and captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri held a press conference, as is usual. However, at the media interaction, a particular moment split the audience. Kohli and Shastri were heard discussing the plan for the WTC final 2021 against New Zealand, which begins on June 18. As they were unaware that the PC had started.
Bowling plan against New Zealand, which may include Mohammad Siraj and Mohammed Shami
In the audio clip, Kohli can be heard saying, “hum inko round the wicket dalwayenge, Left-handers hai inpe, Lala, Siraj sabko start se hi laga denge.” This indicates that the two were talking about the bowling plan against New Zealand, which may include Mohammad Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
During the press conference, Kohli said reaching the WTC final is a reward for hard work. “WTC final holds a lot of value, especially being the first of its kind. It is the toughest format,” Kohli said.
“We take a lot of pride in playing Tests. The way we have progressed as a side shows how much it means to us. For all of us as a unit, this is like an accumulation of all the hard work we have put in not just in the two years of the competition, but over the last 5-6 years since we started to come up the ranks as aside. We are just happy to play the finals.”
The magnitude of the game is the biggest, if not the biggest ever – Ravi Shastri
On the other hand coach, Shastri said that the WTC final should be the best of three contests. “It’s the first time there is a WTC final. The magnitude of the game is the biggest, if not the biggest ever. It’s the toughest form of the game. It has happened over two years, not two months. Teams have played each other across the world and earned the right to play the final. It is one hell of an event.”
“Ideally in the long run, if they want to pursue with Test championship, a best of three final is ideal. But you have to finish it early because of the FTP. For now, one-off is a one-off.”
Also read: Who was a better bowler between Wasim Akram, Allan Donald, and Javagal Srinath?