WTC Final: 'New Zealand not underdogs, India won't underestimate them,' says Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Agarkar. Picture/ AFP

Former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar in a recent chat with a sports channel weighed in on the much-awaited and first World Test Championship final which will be played between India and New Zealand.

Agarkar has strongly insisted that New Zealand are no longer 'underdogs' and has also said that Team India will not underestimate them in the Test match.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected, Former Team India pacer Ajit Agarkar spoke on how New Zealand has shed the underdog tag and why the Indian side shouldn't underestimate them at the World Test Championship Final, "I hope not. I don't think the Indian team would be guilty to underestimate them (The Kiwis). I think the underdog tag has gone away from New Zealand. Every ICC tournament you look at - okay, this is the first of its kind, Test championship - every ICC tournament, whether it's the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, the World Cup; they always turn up, they're always there in the thereabout. If not the finals, then in the quarterfinals or the semi-finals. And that's a testament to their consistency. So, the underdog tag should go. Yes, there are, perhaps bigger names in some of the other teams and that's why you count them as favourites. So, I don't think India will be underestimating them. They beat India comprehensively well when India toured New Zealand and the conditions are likely to be very similar to what India got in New Zealand. So, India will have to play well to beat New Zealand in this contest."

Team India will face the Kiwis in the WTC Final at Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18-22. Team India are scheduled to arrive in the UK on June 3 after serving their 14-day bio-secure quarantine in India.

Also Read: Brendon McCullum: New Zealand will have edge over India in WTC final

Cricket Connected now airs every Monday at 2 PM & 5 PM IST on the Star Sports Network. The show has cricketing legends engage with fans through video calls discussing a range of topics.