WTC Final: Head start for Ajinkya Rahane

India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Pic/AFP

India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is back in familiar conditions to take on New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18.

Having represented Hampshire during the 2019-20 county season, scoring 307 runs in seven matches, Rahane's familiarity with the Ageas Bowl where he played two matches (scoring 50 runs) will give him an edge over other Indian batsmen, felt his Hampshire teammate Kyle Abbott.

"I think coming over here and playing will work in Ajinkya's favour. Although he didn't play too many games at the Ageas Bowl, his knowledge of English conditions and being the class player that he is, I'm sure will stand him in good stead for the WTC final," the South African all-rounder told mid-day from Southampton on Sunday.

Kyle Abbott on conditions at Southampton

Rahane has played a stellar role in helping India reach the WTC final. Apart from being the top run-getter for India in the two-year WTC cycle (August 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021) with 1095, Rahane's astute leadership came to the fore during the Australia tour where he successfully rallied his injury-ravaged troops to clinch the series 2-1 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final alive.

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Abbott, who is playing in the UK on a Kolpak deal, expects the pitch to be conducive for batting and bowling. "Generally, it is an even contest between bat and ball. During the first day and a half, conditions are often in the bowlers' favour before getting better to bat as the match goes on, with the last day then becoming up and down with some invariable bounce," said Abbott, who has 35 wickets and 111 runs from eight county matches so far in the season.

The pitch at the Ageas Bowl has favoured the seamers in the ongoing county season with Abbott and Mohammad Abbas leading the wicket-takers list with 35 and 27 respectively. There have been three low-scoring affairs at Southampton this season with Leicestershire folding up for a first-innings 84 in the opening match. Hosts Hampshire were then bowled out for 79 by Somerset in the second match, while Middlesex were bundled out for a paltry 79 in the last match played at Ageas Bowl before the venue was shut to prepare for the WTC final.

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