Best Combined XI of World Test Championship (WTC)

After a long wait of two years, the cricket fraternity finally has a world Test champion. New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) to lift the illustrious trophy.

The WTC final saw a lot of drama and action as the game was disturbed by rain and other factors. However, the Blackcaps defied all odds and scripted history courtesy of a comprehensive performance by the players in all three facets of the game.

Virat Kohli and Co also had their moments to get on top of the Kiwis. But in the end, the Kane Williamson-captained team turned out to be a bit too strong for them, especially in the last day’s play.

In this article, let’s take a look at the best-combined XI from the WTC Final:

1. Devon Conway

New Zealand’s opening batsman Devon Conway announced himself in style to the cricket fraternity. Making his Test debut against England earlier this month, Conway made headlines as he smashed a double hundred.

The opening batter continued his fine form in the final of the World Test Championship too. Conway was one of the two players to score a half-century in the WTC Final. He was the highest run-getter for New Zealand in their first batting innings as he added 54 runs to the scoreboard.

The 29-year-old was expected to play another fine inning when New Zealand were chasing 139. However, he could score only 19 runs and lost his wicket to Ravi Ashwin.

2. Rohit Sharma

The WTC Final was another match when Rohit Sharma got a good start with the willow but marched back to the pavilion without capitalizing on it.

Rohit showed his class and temperament in the first innings as he used a careful approach while batting against the Blackcaps decorated seam attack. The 34-year-old scored 34 runs in the first innings.

The second batting innings also saw Rohit getting a fine start as he added 30 runs to the scoreboard. However, this time around, he was dismissed by Tim Southee. 

3. Kane Williamson (C) 

The New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson led from the front in the showpiece event. The Blackcaps’ skipped showcased his character and class in the WTC final as he played two spectacular knocks across two innings.

In their first batting innings, New Zealand got a good start but they soon started losing their wickets quickly. However, Williamson held his fort at one end and played a stunning knock of 49 runs.

The NZ skipper backed it with another class innings as he took the Kiwis home with his extraordinary performance of a 52-run knock. Kane scripted a not-out winning partnership of 96 runs with Ross Taylor.  

4. Virat Kohli 

Big things were expected from the Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the historic Test final. Though the skipper showed initial signs of excellence, he failed to translate the good starts in some fine knocks during both innings.

The first innings saw Kohli adding 44 runs to the scoreboard, however, he lost his wicket to seamer Kyle Jamieson. India’s second batting innings also witnessed something similar as Virat again gave his wicket to Jamieson but this time while playing at 13.

However, one area where Virat impressed the most has to be his leadership skills. The 32-year-old invited applause and appreciation from all over the cricket fraternity for his tactical decisions on the field and rotation of bowlers. 

5. Ajinkya Rahane

India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane brilliantly led the batting line-up in the first innings. The right-hander scored a stunning 49 runs including five boundaries.

On the back of his efforts, India managed to post 217 runs on the scoreboard. However, just like other Indian batters, Rahane flattened in the second batting innings.

India was hoping for a partnership between Rahane and Rishabh Pant in the third innings after the team lost Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara cheaply. However, Rahane could add just 15 runs to the scoreboard and lost his wicket to Trent Boult in the 50th over. 

6. Rishabh Pant

A lot was expected from the decorated wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant as the fans were hoping to see a repeat telecast of the Gabba or Sydney Test. However, Pant couldn’t weave the same magic at the Rose Bowl.

Kyle Jamieson picked him up in the first innings when he was playing at four. The second batting innings saw Pant trying to help India reach a decent total after early wickets.

The young keeper played some brilliant shots as he churned out a sublime knock of 41 runs off 88 deliveries including four boundaries. However, this time it was Trent Boult who was successful in trapping the 23-year-old. 

7. Kyle Jamieson

It won’t be wrong to say that the right-arm seamer Kyle Jamieson was the difference between India and New Zealand. Jamieson was the only player who excelled in all two facets of the game be it batting or bowling.

The 26-year-old ran through India’s batting line-up in the first innings as he picked up a five-wicket haul. This was followed by him scoring 21 runs with the willow in the second innings.

The right-arm pacer again returned in the third innings as he scalped the wickets of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Jamieson is one of the best finds for the Blackcaps and he is expected to achieve many more laurels in his cricket career.

8. Ravi Ashwin

The only spinner to feature in this elite list is India’s ace off-spinner Ravi Ashwin. Though India’s bowling unit didn’t enjoy much success in the WTC final, Ashwin lived up to his reputation. The veteran picked crucial wickets in both innings and gave much-needed breakthroughs to the Indian cricket team.

In the second innings, Ashwin picked Tom Latham and Neil Wagner. In the last innings, India could pick only two wickets and both the scalps were picked by Ashwin.

The spinner was successful in sending Tom Latham and Devon Conway back to the pavilion. However, one area where the spinner disappointed was his batting as he failed to make any significant contribution to the scoreboard. 

9. Tim Southee

Tim Southee was at his fluent best in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship. The left-arm seamer asked some difficult questions from the Indian batters. In the first innings, Southee picked just one wicket of Mohammed Shami.

However, the seamer caused carnage in the third innings as he was successful in sending both the opening batsmen including Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill back to the pavilion.

In addition, he also took the wicket of Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Southee made some valuable contribution with the willow too as he smashed 30 runs in just 46 balls to help Kiwis post 249 runs on the scoreboard. 

10. Trent Boult

New Zealand’s pace attack was on fire in the final of the World Test Championship. Trent Boult also formed an invaluable part of the decorated seam attack.

Boult, very well, supported Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson in both innings. In the first innings, Boult picked the all-important wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja. 

India’s second batting innings saw Boult picking three prized wickets in the form of Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravi Ashwin. 

11. Mohammed Shami

Before the WTC final in Southampton, there were lots of questions and apprehensions regarding whether Mohammed Shami will be able to adapt to the English conditions or not.

However, Shami managed to shut all his critics as the bowler led the Indian bowling attack from the front in the second innings. Shami was the pick of the bowlers for India during New Zealand’s first innings as he scalped as many as four wickets.

Shami picked up Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, and Kyle Jamieson. However, the right-arm seamer failed to make the same contribution in the last innings of the match as he went wicketless.