New Zealand created history after their triumph over India by eight wickets in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship at Southampton on Wednesday. Chasing the target of 139 for victory on Day 6, the reserve day, Captain Kane Williamson and veteran Ross Taylor brought all their experience into play to sail their side towards their first test championship title. New Zealand's only other ICC event triumphs have come in the 2000 Knockout Trophy (men's) and 2000 Women’s ODI World cup. Williamson steered his team with an unbeaten half-century, while Taylor hit 47 after their bowlers once again destroyed the perceived much-stronger Indian batting line-up. India's batsmen disappointed again in the second innings as they were sent packing for 170, leaving the Kiwis with an easy target of 139 runs. The performance of the Men in Blue is being criticized a lot. But what actually went wrong for india in the final, let’s have a look at 5 big reasons:-
1. Team Selection Indian team made a bold move by naming their playing XI on the eve of the match but did not field a team suitable for the English conditions, loaded heavily in favour of the seamers. Indian team included three fast bowlers and two spinners, while New Zealand went in with an all-pace attack, leaving out the spinner. Someone like Mohammed Siraj would have been a handful in those conditions, instead of left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who got just one wicket in the match and scored 31 runs.
2. Poor batting in both innings From 146/3, India collapsed to 217 all out in the first innings. It was one of the turning points in the game. Though Mohammed Shami brought India back in the contest with four wickets and the Kiwis' first-innings lead was kept down to only 32, india had to bat well in the second innings. But, again, the batting came tumbling down against the New Zealand bowlers. On the final day, resuming on 64/2, the Indian batsmen could have applied themselves and batted for more time, but that did not happen. The second innings effort was worse than the previous one as they slumped to 170 all out, leaving the Kiwis an easy chase of 139 runs.
3. Irresponsible Pant The left-hander played a couple of unbelievable knocks in Australia earlier this year and Indian fans were hoping for another piece of magic from the youngster. But, alas, he let everyone down as he threw his wicket away attempting a rash shot in the second innings. He danced down the track once again, aiming to hit Trent Boult over the leg side, but miscued it and Henry Nicholls took a good running catch on the off-side. Pant's wicket proved to be the turning point as New Zealand's pacers ran through the lower order, with India losing four wickets for 14 runs in the space of 22 deliveries.
4. Flop show by Bumrah When India banked on him to deliver on the biggest stage, Jasprit Bumrah failed. After 26 wicketless overs in the first innings, Kohli decided not to give Bumrah the new ball in the second essay and opened with Ishant and Shami. Overall, it was a forgettable game for Bumrah who also failed to open the account with the bat in both innings. This is only the second time that Bumrah went wicketless in a Test match.
5. New Zealand's tailenders While India's lower order batsmen collapsed in both innings, New Zealand's tailenders made a vital difference with the bat in their first innings. New Zealand were reduced to 162/6 at one stage but Kyle Jamieson came in and smashed a quickfire 21 from 16 balls. The experienced Tim Southee scored some useful runs at the end, hitting two sixes and a four in his 46-ball 30 putting on some valuable runs with Neil Wagner (0) and Trent Boult (5 not out) before he was the last man out. The last four wickets had added 87 runs for New Zealand.
