WTC Final: Dilip Vengsarkar believes lack of match practice may hurt the Indians

Lack of match practice before the World Test Championship final against New Zealand “may hurt” the Indian team, says former player Dilip Vengsarkar. Ex-BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar lauded both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as world-class players and it is a big positive for them that both are in good form. Otherwise, he fears that a lack of match practice may hurt them in the first World Test Championship final.

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“Well, he (Kohli) has been around for a long time. He (Kohli) is one of the best batsmen in world cricket at the moment. Players like Virat or Rohit Sharma, are world-class players, they take a lot of pride in their performance and pride in winning matches for India,” Vengsarkar, the former chairman of selectors, told PTI

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“It is a good thing and both are in very good form. But having said that, I think lack of match practice may hurt them in the first Test match that is what I feel,” he added.

DOes NEW ZEALAND HAVE THE UPPER HAND?

Vengsarkar reckoned that New Zealand could have a slight advantage given that they are already in the zone competitively. New Zealand are engaged in a two-Test series against England, the first of which will finish on Sunday.

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“India is a better team and in great form. The advantage with New Zealand, it is a low-profile team, the thing is that they are getting to play two Test matches before the Test match (World Test Championship final).”

“So it is important… it is a slight advantage to New Zealand… because they have already played two Test matches before they start (of the WTC final), they are acclimatised to the conditions,” said Vengsarkar.

GETTING USED TO THE CONDITIONS

He also reckoned that Team India should have played practice matches before the WTC final.

“What I feel is that India should have played games, you know matches, at least two-three games before the Test match (WTC), to get acclimatised to the conditions. It is advisable to play matches and spend time in the middle, both for batsmen as well as for bowlers. 

“A match practice is ultimate, you may have net practice, you know a match stimulation, but playing a match in the middle and spending time in the middle always helps, when you play the big game,” he concluded.