Should ICC World Test Championship final be decided in best-of-three series? Ravi Shastri comments

The upcoming final of the ICC World Test Championship would be of utmost importance for Team India, as it would be the perfect reward for its hard work in the last two years. However, is a one-off final justified? Here's what head coach Ravi Shastri feels.

Team Newsable

Mumbai, First Published Jun 3, 2021, 12:25 PM IST

Team India is hyped ahead of the all-important and thrilling ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton from June 18. It would be a one-off final to determine who would be crowned the global champion in the game's longest and ultimate format.

The final would hold utmost importance for the Indian side, as a win would truly reward its hard work over the past couple of years. However, does this one-off final do justice to everything? Indian head coach Ravi Shastri feels otherwise, as he has backed a best-of-three series to determine the perfect winner.

Should ICC World Test Championship final be decided in best-of-three series? Ravi Shastri comments-ayh

"Ideally, in the long run, if they want to persist with the Test Championship, a best-of-three final will be ideal. As a culmination of two-and-a-half years of cricket around the globe. Going forward, best of three will be ideal, but we have got to finish it as quickly as possible because the FTP will start all over again," he said during a press conference ahead of India's departure to England on Wednesday, reports ESPNCricinfo.

"One-off is a one-off, and the guys have earned their stripes. This is not a team that has blossomed overnight. Five years No. 1. When you start being on top or playing cricket at the highest level or competing against the best, you have the ability to pull yourselves out of tough situations. As you have seen time and time again, there have been many times when this side has pulled itself out of big problems and gone on to win series. So, I think the final is a great victory for the boys, really," he added.

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli- Mental health equally important as physical workload management

Should ICC World Test Championship final be decided in best-of-three series? Ravi Shastri comments-ayh

Shastri was backed by skipper Virat Kohli, as both feel that it is somewhat unfair for either side to decide it all in just a Test. Nonetheless, both also asserted that win or lose would hardly take away anything from India, especially the performance it has put up since it started playing in the tournament in 2019.

"This holds a lot of value. Especially this being the first of its kind. And in the toughest format. All of us take a lot of pride in playing Test cricket and the way we have progressed as a side is an example of what Test cricket means to us. For all of us as a unit, those who have been part of the Test side for many years, this is like the accumulation of all the hard work time of not just the duration of the championship but the last five-six years. Since the time we started coming up the ranks and building up a side. We are very, very happy to play the final," reckoned Kohli.

Should ICC World Test Championship final be decided in best-of-three series? Ravi Shastri comments-ayh

"We have worked hard for the finals. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that we were probably going to be the first team to be featuring in that final because of the way we have played last few years. For us, it is just about keeping those standards high. It's like football. If you win one championship, you don't stop working hard. You wanna win two and three and four. This is exactly our mindset. If you have made the final once, we absolutely want to win it. Then restructure, plan, move ahead for the next three-four years and again plan to be the top side in the world," he concluded.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona

Last Updated Jun 3, 2021, 12:25 PM IST

Download App:

Should ICC World Test Championship final be decided in best-of-three series? Ravi Shastri comments

RELATED STORIES

Recent Stories

Recent Videos