New Zealand is underestimated by a lot of nations: Parthiv Patel

According to Parthiv Patel, New Zealand has so far succeeded in ICC events because they are underestimated by a lot of teams. India will play against the Kiwis in the World Test Championship final starting on 18th June.

In a recent interview, Parthiv Patel observed that opposition teams usually underestimated the Kiwis at their peril. New Zealand has performed consistently in ICC events and proved effective against the Indian team in such events. There is no particular reason behind their success other than their hard work and team strength. But apart from everything, being underestimated by other teams also worked in their favor.

Patel acknowledged that Kane Williamson is one of the greatest cricketers in the modern era. But New Zealand’s strength is not in just one player but the entire team. The biggest strength of the team is their ability it work together as a unit. Patel pointed out that players like Williamson, Southee, or Boult play individually then their impact won’t be much. But when they play together in a team, it becomes the biggest factor in New Zealand’s success.

The last time India defeated New Zealand at an ICC event was in the 2003 World Cup. The team would hope to break that trend at the World Test Championship final.

New Zealand would have the advantage of playing a Test series in England before the WTC final

Parthiv Patel highlighted that the Kiwis would have a slight edge over India in the WTC finals. It would be because they would get time to better adjust to the English conditions. The playing conditions in England are different from anywhere else in the world. There is a swing in England and spin as well if the weather is dry. Thereby playing the two-test series against the host would give New Zealand some added advantage.

Patel also observed that New Zealand would not play as underdogs or dark horses in the WTC final. They would have the pressure of expectations on them after establishing themselves. Before there were not many expectations from them of winning the tournament. But now they would have to fight that pressure of expectations and ground themselves.

Parthiv Patel concluded that pressure can be New Zealand’s undoing in the World Test Championship final. But if they successfully fight it then they have a fair chance of winning the inaugural trophy of the ICC World Test Championship.

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