Virat Kohli would badly want to win the WTC: Ian Bishop

India will be up against New Zealand in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship from June 18 to June 22 at Southampton. India is arguably the best Test team in the modern era and they have very well proved their dominance in the purest format of the game. 2021 was the fifth time when, under the leadership of Virat Kohli, India finished as the number 1 team in the Test team rankings by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Thus, the WTC final is nothing less than a challenge for the Indian skipper Kohli. If India manages to win the title, this will be his his ICC trophy as a skipper. Though under the leadership of Virat, India reached the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy followed by the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup, they are yet to lift a trophy since 2013. 

West Indies legendary cricketer Ian Bishop believes that Virat Kohli has always led from the front and has brought a lot of positive changes to the team. Thus, the skipper will be looking forward to winning the trophy to prove his dominance. Also, Bishop feels that India winning the trophy will bring joy to millions of people back home who have been suffering from the second wave of Covid-19.

At a press conference arranged by WTC final’s official broadcaster Star Sports, Bishop highlighted, “It will be huge for Virat. He has led from the front which is one of the good things for a captain. He is a batsman who is on the top of the game along with Kane – his counterpart. He has got a lot to play for because we have to remember what India was going through beyond the boundary. 

“Virat would badly want this, because for all the good work that he has done, belief in his fast bowlers, changing his dynamics, to have that trophy in the cabinet for his team for his country, you can’t substitute that,” Bishop said.

If India goes on to win the WTC final, many youngsters would want to wear whites: VVS Laxman

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman, who was also a part of the presser, echoed the sentiments of West Indies legend. He also claimed how the WTC trophy will inspire youngsters in India to work hard and play the red-ball format. The Indian legend believes that Virat winning WTC will be a huge boost for the Test format and will inspire cricketers to focus more on the traditional format. 

“After India won the 1983 World Cup under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, it inspired people like me and several others to take up cricket as a career. Similarly, when India won the World Twenty20 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, it was a huge boost for T20 cricket. So if India goes on to win the WTC final, I am sure many youngsters would want to wear whites and play Test cricket,” Laxman said.