Bat or Bowl?: Sourav Ganguly Opines What India Should Do After Winning Toss

The wait for the India vs New Zealand ICC World Test Championship Final is about to end. India is all set to lock horns with New Zealand to win their maiden WTC title at the Ageas Bowl in England's Southampton. Ind vs NZ WTC Final 2021 will be played from June 18 to June 22. Team India has announced its playing XI for the final match. Photo: AFP

Indian cricket team management has reposed faith in the experience of Ishant Sharma instead of giving chance to in-form Mohammad Siraj and has also included the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in playing XI for WTC Final. Considering the conditions of England, the role of the toss in the India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 is crucial. 

Meanwhile, former India captain and BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has suggested what India should do first after winning the toss.  Photo: AFP

Sourav Ganguly while talking to India Today said that despite the cloudy weather, India should win the toss and decide to bat first.  He said, 'If you open the record books and see India's best performance on foreign soil, every time we have won matches only when we have batted first.  It is a choice whether you want to face the pressure early in the opposite situation or wait for the fourth innings.  You look at the match against 2002 Leeds or 2018 South Africa, we batted first in conditions that helped the bowlers and soaked up the pressure in the beginning, then put runs on the scoreboard and that's how we won matches.  Photo: AFP

Ganguly said that the role of team India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will be very important in the WTC final.  He said, 'Opening becomes very important on foreign tours.  We did well in Australia, England and Pakistan tours because we had openers like Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra, who used to play the new ball and make it old.  When you have 2 wickets for 30 runs, it becomes very difficult for the middle order batsmen. Photo: AFP

It has been raining all night in Southampton. In such a situation, there is also a apprehension about the start of the first day's game on Friday. Indian viewers will be able to watch the World Test Championship final from 3 pm onwards. The weather report from Southampton is a bit disappointing because between June 18 to June 22, there is a possibility of rain. Photo: Getty Images