File photo of Indian players disappointed after losing the WTC final to New Zealand.
Former England captain Alastair Cook feels India’s reluctance to change their playing XI after the first day’s washout earned them the World Test Championship (WTC) title. After a total washout on the first day of a rain-hit clash in Southampton, Virat KohliThe led team had the opportunity to include a fast bowler instead of going with two spinners.
England’s second-most capped Test player also highlighted New Zealand’s “correct” preparation for the title clash. While the Kiwis came into conflict after the two-Test series against England, India entered the competition only in intra-squad matches.
“They (India) got a little bit confident three days ago (the game) in picking the team and playing two spinners where they knew it was going to rain for that game. So there was a lot of seam bowling even though. Their spinners might be world class, but they got a little ahead of themselves there,” Cook on the Tuffers and Vaughn podcast said on BBC Sport.
“Intra-squad games, as good as you might intend, they haven’t got that much intensity. The first hour can be really competitive but everything goes less and less. India was tough that way,” he said.
“I said that New Zealand were going to win that game purely from the fact that they were match-hard. Those two Test matches against England were such a good preparation,” Cook said.
Earlier, Cook had said that India needs to put in a “significant effort” to beat England at home. The leading run-scorer in Test matches for England believes that the Indian team will suffer from ‘mental fatigue’ by the end of the five-Test series.
Cook said, “India have shown how good they are at the moment as they are in the final of the World Test Championship, but it is difficult to beat England in more than five Test matches in England, and I am looking forward to a very tough fight.” I am,” Cook told ‘ESPNcricinfo’
“India will have been here for a long time so can be mentally exhausted by the end of the tour. India will start very well, but in five matches in a row, it is a significant effort to beat England at home. So I think That if England joins India early, there’s no reason they can’t win.”
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