India and New Zealand are set to clash next month for their maiden Test World Cup title. The final starts on June 18 in Southampton, England. Both teams advanced to the finals after finishing in the top two on the points table at the championship, which lasted more than two years. While India came in first, the Kiwis came in second.
Kane Williamson will be the captain of the Kiwis as India prepare for the World Cup under Virat Kohli. Both teams have announced the best team. Let’s take a look at who will make the cut if a joint XI is selected to include the key players from both teams.
Rohit, Latham
India’s Rohit Sharma and Tom Latham will be the openers. Rohit has been performing well since being promoted as a Test opener in 2019. He has scored 1030 runs at an average of 64.38, including a double century. The last time Rohit played abroad was on a tour of Australia. He had a not-so-bad performance. Latham is the second highest run scorer for the Kiwis at the World Championships. A left-handed batsman, he averaged 42.86 in 95 innings.
Williamson (captain), Kohli
Kiwis captain Kane Williamson will play at number three. He will also lead the combined XI. Williamson is currently the Kiwis’ top scorer at the World Championships. He scored 817 runs in nine matches at an average of 58.35. India captain Virat Kohli will go down to number four. Although he has not crossed the three-mark in any format since November 2019, no one can doubt his talent. At the World Championships, Kohli scored 877 runs at an average of 43.85.
Rahane, Rishabh
Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant will be in fifth and sixth place respectively. Rishabh is also the wicket keeper of the XI. Rahane, who is also the vice-captain, is currently the highest run scorer for India in the World Championships. Rahane leads the way with 1095 runs at an average of 43.80. This includes three centuries. Although he did not shine in the last Test series against England, Rahane has always played notable innings on foreign pitches. Rishabh is somehow above Kiwis wicketkeeper BJ Watling. He excelled in wicket-keeping as well as played match-winning innings in Tests against Australia and England. With this performance, Rishabh has established himself in the Indian team in all formats.
Jadeja, Ashwin
India’s star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin will play in the next positions. Jadeja, one of the best all-rounders in the world, came into the XI ahead of New Zealand’s Collin de Granthom and Daryl Mitchell. Along with bowling and batting, Jadeja can play a crucial role in changing the course of the match. He has a batting average of 58.62 at the World Championships. In Ashwin’s case, he is the highest wicket – taker for India at the World Championships. He took 67 wickets. Ashwin also scored a crucial century in the last England series.
Jamieson, Boult, Bumrah
When it comes to pace bowling, New Zealand has the upper hand in the XI. Kyle Jamieson and Trent Boult will join the XI. The third pacer will be India’s Jasprit Bumrah. The Kiwis’ tall pacer Jamieson’s Test career is off to a great start. He has taken 36 wickets in six Tests. Jamison can also play a crucial role in batting. Bumrah, the spearhead of the Indian pace attack, is a bowler who can shine on any pitch. He has taken 83 wickets in 19 Tests. In addition to swinging the new ball, the pacer can swing the old ball getting reverse swing at cue.
Left-arm pacer Trent Boult is a bowler capable of tearing down opposing batsmen with excellent swing bowling. That’s why Boult has overtaken Mohammad Shami, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Ishant Sharma in the XI.
