Former captain Daniel Vettori termed New Zealand's 3-0 Test series win on Indian soil as his country's greatest achievement while ex-batter Ross Taylor said he did not think of a clean sweep even "in our wildest dreams".
'Whichever team is able to adjust and adapt to the conditions, the pitch will win the match.'
India will be hoping to pull off a miracle on Sunday by surviving Australia's relentless bowling onslaught.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the third Test against Australia in Brisbane?
'Preparation starts here #englandtour #workout'.
Shah, the leading run-scorer for Afghanistan in Tests and ODIs, wanted to give the Kiwis, the inaugural WTC champions, a tough time.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the WTC Final played between Australia and India at The Oval in London on Saturday.
Off-spinner Nishan Peiris picked up a six-wicket haul on debut as Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by an innings and 154 runs.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is excited to face India in the ICC World Test Championships (WTC) final next month as he considers showdowns against Virat Kohli's men to be a 'fantastic challenge'.
Kohli wants to focus on the things which the hosts can control like playing good cricket in the upcoming games.
Bangladesh remained in ninth position and behind Pakistan despite gaining 13 rating points.
The WTC final presents the Black Caps with another opportunity to become world champions and if all falls into place, nothing can stop them go for glory.
The Indian team's sweater has the logos of the ICC World Test Championship 2021 and BCCI with 'INDIA' written on the front.
Former skipper Ricky Ponting predicted that the Baggy Greens will dominate the Rohit Sharma-led side in the five-match series.
Sunil Gavaskar said if India captain Rohit Sharma misses the first Test against Australia, then Jasprit Bumrah should lead the side for the entire five-match series.
Ex-coach Lehmann unhappy with Australia not playing tour games ahead of WTC final, Ashes
Vettori also expects Cameron Green to play a big part in the WTC final, especially after his superb showing in the just-concluded IPL.
The seeds of India's defeat were sown in Melbourne, where Bumrah had to bowl 53.2 overs -- 24.4 in the second innings on the back of 28.4 in the first innings. With just three days to recover, that was an inhuman burden on a bowler who had bowled 151 overs in this series.
While India are on top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table, the Bangladesh skipper believed that it will all boil down to how they perform during those five days and result can come even in the last session.
The Indian players got down to business on Friday with an intense session in the nets under the watchful eyes of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India descended to the 6th position in the ICC World Test Championship points table due to a 2-point penalty
Former players Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel believe pace bowler Mohammed Shami will the hold the key for India with the ball in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand.
Only Kapil Dev, with 131 matches, has played more Tests than Ishant for India as a fast bowler.
India and New Zealand will battle it out for the prestigious title at Southampton on June 18.
The Australian team on paper holds slight advantage on a bouncy track at The Oval but both Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting believe that the Indians are better prepared.
The current cycle runs from July 2021 to June 2023 and comprises the top nine Test teams, all of whom will play six series each
The decline in Kohli's Test batting average is particularly alarming. It has now plummeted to an eight-year low of 48.74.
India will be under tremendous pressure when they face an equally circumspect Australia in a battle of two out-of-form batting units in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth
Australia (296 points from 3 series) toppled India (360 points from 4 series) in the standings after the revision with a percentage of 82.22 compared to the latter's 75 per cent.
'What made my comeback possible was enjoying each and every moment, be it success or failure, and having no regrets. Learning from every individual in Mumbai Ranji team. You have to grow as a cricketer every single day, learning process shouldn't stop.'
Shastri lauded the team for making it to the WTC final despite the ICC changing the qualification criteria last year.
Ravi Shastri didn't expect the orthodox Cheteshwar Pujara to try out an uncharacteristic ramp shot against Pat Cummins.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the WTC Final played between Australia and India at The Oval in London on Thursday.
'I don't know how we approach this kind of an itinerary where you go for a holiday in between and then come back to play Test matches. One week break was enough post the WTC final. The thing is you need to play continuously. I am amazed this itinerary was approved.'
The India team have had its share of innovations and it is now using multi-coloured rubber balls for catching practice!
Parthiv Patel gave his views on on what the World Test Championship title would mean for Virat Kohli.
Agarkar said Team India has always found out ways to emerge victorious even in crunch situations.
Cheteshwar Pujara still feels the sting of last year's drubbing in New Zealand but the batsman says India will be a different proposition when the sides clash again at the neutral venue of Southampton in next month's World Test Championship final.
Australia's success in Christchurch sets up home Test series against India
A turner in Pune exposed the soft underbelly of Indian batters' technique against slow bowling but as per the current team's philosophy, it has decided to take the bull by its horns by asking for a turner where the ball might turn at right angles from first hour.
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