Michael Holding believes Team India, given the variation in their bowling attack, will have an edge over New Zealand in the upcoming WTC Final. irrespective of the conditions at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Overcast conditions often play a vital role in England, and the weather often changes over the course of five days. Holding also feels India have all their bases covered as they have a formidable pace attack coupled with exceptional spinners.
“Obviously, conditions will play a role. But the bowling attack India have, it will help them even if conditions remain bright. And if it’s sunny throughout, they can even afford to play two spinners. They have that advantage,” Holding told The Telegraph.
“Even if conditions are damp, I still think India will include one spinner, which could be (Ravichandran) Ashwin as he can contribute well with his batting too. The pitch there (at the Ageas Bowl) does offer turn for spinners, which will be to India’s liking,” he added.
Several former players are of the opinion that New Zealand might hold the edge over India as they are playing two Tests against England prior to the WTC Final, which will help them to adapt to the conditions more quickly.
The 67-year-old also opined on the contrasting captaincy styles of Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson. The legendary pacer agrees that Williamson is the “calmer” of the two while Kohli is “more expressive.” But, he added that both styles come with their pros and cons.
“A calmer captain can help his teammates stay more relaxed on the field. As a result, they can see to it that they aren’t too tense. At the same time, though, an expressive/animated captain could be required to lift the spirits of his team, especially during tough and critical situations,” he stated.
The WTC Final will be played from June 18-22. Both teams will share the trophy in case of a draw.