WTC Final 2023: Countering swing, seam and lack of adaptability — lessons for Team India from last final

India’s loss to New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 can be attributed to several elements.
From their struggle against swing and seam, to inadequate preparation, to batting collapses, and a dominant bowling performance from New Zealand — all were contributing factors.
As India gets ready to gain supremacy once again in the longest format of the game against Australia, let us look at how the loss against the Kiwis provides valuable lessons and areas for improvement, reinforcing the need for better preparation, adaptability, and batsmanship in high-pressure situations.
Struggling against swing and seam
One of the main reasons behind India’s defeat can be attributed to its difficulties in countering swing and seam movement. The English conditions at the Rose Bowl in Southampton favored the NZ pace attack, allowing their skilful bowlers to exploit the situation. The Indian batters found it challenging to cope with the moving ball, losing crucial wickets. A point in case was Virat Kohli’s dismissal; concerns about the incoming ball made him play at a wide one and edge it to the keeper. Kyle Jamieson, who was the wrecker in chief, made the Indian batters push at his deliveries outside off-stump but at the same time kept bringing the ball back in as well. Not only Kohli, but the famed top five of India struggled against the moving ball, falling lbw or edging behind.

Inadequate Preparation and Acclimatization
After an average performance in the first innings, India’s batting lasted just 73 overs in the second. The skills of Kiwi bowlers made Indian batters play at balls they would otherwise leave. The first-innings lbws and inswingers would have been probably played on the minds and then came back to haunt them in the second innings. The batters were also lacking in preparation and acclimatization to the English conditions. The Indian team had limited exposure to red-ball cricket in English conditions before the final. In contrast, New Zealand had played two Test matches against England just before the final, gaining valuable experience and adapting better to the conditions.
The likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Kyle Jamieson showed their exceptional skill and accuracy, exploiting the conditions to trouble the Indian batters consently. None of the India batters got a 50 as Jamieson troubled them with his high release point, something that Josh Hazelwood could do.
Bowling combinations
India chose to go with two spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja after a washed out first day, but both together bowled just 22 overs in the first innings. New Zealand were struggling at 162 for 6 but rallied to end up with 249, taking a 47-run lead. The Indian bowlers just couldn’t break through. And once the New Zealanders ransacked the Indian batting line-up on the final day morning, the game was heading one way. India were 64 for 2 at the start of the final day but collapsed to be shot out for 170.

Needing 139 to win from 53 overs, the Indians couldn’t break Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor as both hit unbeaten fifties to help New Zealand achieve a 8-wicket win.
This time around, without Bumrah, India’s bowling headaches have increased. They have to be careful about their combination: will they go with Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav and decide between R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur, as Australia’s bowling coach Daniel Vettori expects. The pitch at Oval usually plays out well, before providing some help to the spinners but the current conditions would have to be assessed. Here is where the lack of someone like Hardik Pandya can hurt. And more importantly, the absence of India’s most impactful Test performer in recent memory Rishabh Pant continues to ail India’s balance.