Terming New Zealand ‘the better team in the conditions,’ Ravi Shastri said ‘respect’ to the Kiwis for finally ending their drought for an ICC trophy.
Indian head coach Ravi Shastri’s congratulatory tweet on the inaugural World Test Championship winners New Zealand went viral on Twitter, almost like a “tracer ball” on Thursday. Calling New Zealand “the best team under conditions,” Shastri said “respect” to the Kiwis for finally ending their drought for an ICC trophy.
New Zealand ended their 21-year wait for an ICC trophy by beating India in the WTC final by 8 wickets at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday.
Shastri said New Zealand were the deserving winner.
“A better team won under the conditions. Deserved winners after the longest wait for a world title. The classic example of great things does not come easily. Well done, New Zealand. Respect,” Shastri wrote on Twitter a day after the final.
Indian captain Virat Kohli, in the post-match presentation, also credited New Zealand for their superb performance in the final.
“First off, kudos to Kane and his team. They have shown great consistency and a big heart, and get a result in three days. They put pressure on us throughout the test and were extremely successful in winning, ”Kohli said.
After rain washed away two days and interrupted play roughly every five days, the final entered the reserve day with a draw being the most likely outcome.
Under bright sunshine, the New Zealand setters led by Tim Southee, who picked up four wickets, turned the tide by beating India for 170 in the second inning.
Chasing a target of 139 in the remaining 53 overs, captain Kane Williamson went on to score fifty unbeaten and Ross Taylor scored 47 as New Zealand won the match and the WTC title.
“It’s a special feeling. It’s good to have one under your belt. I want to thank Virat and the Indian team. The heart shown by our team was commendable. It’s the first time we’ve won a world title, and the 22 players who played a big part in crossing the line deserve our appreciation. It will be remembered for a long time. We don’t always have all the stars, and we saw that in this game. We saw so much heart and commitment, ”said Williamson after the game.
