Virat Kohli-led India will lock horns with Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on July 18. All eyes will be on the much-awaited contest as both the skippers are yet to lift a major trophy as captain. Sharing his views ahead of the WTC final, legendary West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop opined that the trophy would be huge for Kohli.
At a press conference arranged by WTC final’s official broadcaster Star Sports, Bishop highlighted how keeping the pandemic, which has been a huge concern for India in the last year, especially in the last six months, there’s a lot to play for Kohli and his men against New Zealand.
“It will be huge for Virat. He has led from the front which is one of the good things for a captain. He is a batsman who is on the top of the game along with Kane – his counterpart. He has got a lot to play for because we have to remember what India was going through beyond the boundary. The pandemic, things that have happened in the last few months. So when players talk about playing for a country, if ever there was a subsequent meaning to it, it is now for India to play for the thousands and millions back at home who have been suffering. Virat would badly want this, because for all the good work that he has done, belief in his fast bowlers, changing his dynamics, to have that trophy in the cabinet for his team for his country, you can’t substitute that,” Bishop said.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman, who was also a part of the presser, also highlighted how if India goes on to win the trophy, it will not only promote Test cricket but also leave an impact on the minds of the upcoming youngsters.
“After India won the 1983 World Cup under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, it inspired people like me and several others to take up cricket as a career. Similarly, when India won the World Twenty20 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, it was a huge boost for T20 cricket. So if India goes on to win the WTC final, I am sure many youngsters would want to wear whites and play Test cricket,” Laxman said.
Laxman also went on to add how the occasion is a huge one not just for India and New Zealand players, but also for Test cricket.
“It’s a massive occasion for both the teams, there is no doubt about it. Not only for players from both the teams but also for Test cricket as a format, we have seen over the years, since the emergence of T20 cricket, everybody was questioning the relevance of Test cricket. But what ICC has come up with this wonderful initiative to give relevance to Test cricket where not only the fans will be interested in watching Test cricket but the players will play this format with interest. The best against the best will lock horns in Southampton on June 18,” the Hyderabad cricketer said
