WTC Final 2023: I think India will come out on top – AB de Villiers

Former South African skipper AB de Villiers has predicted that India will come out on top in the World Test Championship final against Australia. AB feels Rohit Sharma’s India will take a lot of confidence from their 157-run win against England while playing at the Kennington Oval, London back in 2021.

As the Oval pitch is expected to be a bit dry, the Indian spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – will also come into action. The former RCB batter feels the game can go down to the wire but feels India might end on the right side of the result.

India has had its wood on Australia in the last four Test series while playing at home as well as away. In fact, India has won the last two Test series against the Aussies on Australian shores.

Moreover, Indian players are coming into the WTC final after taking part in IPL 2023 but adjusting to the Test format could be a challenge for them.

AB de Villiers said on Jio Cinema, “Very difficult to say who are the favorites. Both teams have not been playing a lot of Test cricket of late but what I can say is that India in their last Test match at the Oval have got a win against this very strong England team. They will be taking a bit of confidence from that.”

The former South African skipper added: “I think India will come out on top on day five of the Test match. I think it might go all the way. It’s a good wicket to bat on but I think the Indian spinners will come into play in the latter stages of the Test match.”

AB picked his good friend Virat Kohli to do the heavy lifting for the Indian team. The talisman scored 639 runs in 14 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023 at an average of 53.25, including two hundreds and he will be looking to carry the same form in the WTC Final against Australia.

“I am just going to mention one and someone who has always been fired up with all these kind of series, especially in the UK and Australia. Everywhere he has traveled, he wants to prove a point – it’s Virat Kohli. It’s great to see him enjoy the game of cricket and I can’t wait to see him do well in the UK again.”

AB feels Jasprit Bumrah’s absence will be a big loss for the team but feels Mohammed Siraj, who has been in good form, will step up for the team. Siraj, who has scalped 47 wickets in 18 Test matches, is expected to open the bowling with Mohammed Shami.

“Bumrah is a big loss for the Indian bowling attack, but I do think that Mohammed Siraj is in the form of his life. He has done well there before. He has got that extra pace. He nips it around off-stump, and I think he is the biggest asset in India’s bowling attack.”

The WTC Final will be played at the Oval from June 7.