The stage is set for the biggest showdown in Test cricket history. After years of having champions in the shorter formats of the game, for the first time, there will be a World Test Champion. And we will know who that is in less than a week’s time from today. 

India and New Zealand will lock horns on 18th June, 2021, at Southampton’s Rose Bowl stadium in a battle of Test supremacy. As the two teams look to lift this ICC trophy, let us look at some factors that may influence the same. Scroll right down if you want to know where you can watch this all-important encounter. 

New Zealand’s recent win against England 

The Kiwis played a two-match Test series here in England that ended only on June 13th. In an exceptional display of cricket, they won the series 1-0, drawing the first game and easily winning the second by eight wickets. 

Between the two teams, New Zealand seems to be on a high, convincingly winning here in English conditions. Debutant Devon Conway’s double century and some great bowling to the rattle the England batters in their own backyards will be their biggest takeaway for the upcoming big game. 

India’s domination against England, Australia in their recent Tests 

The Indian cricket team has been dominating in numbers at the ongoing World Test Championships. The batters have shown great skill and even the youngsters have stepped up to the occasion to steal India's wins. 

The now-iconic Gabba Test and the rest of the matches in that tour, which India won 2-1, showed the quality of players India has even for bench strength. From standing up to Australian bowlers in their conditions, resisting them and forcing them into a draw, to treating the match like an ODI game and winning it for the team, they’ve done it all. 

India decimated England too in the tour that followed that, and the one that would confirm their place in the WTC final. Winning 3-1 after losing the first game, India registered a 317-run win, a 10-wicket win, and an innings win, proving their ability to bounce back from any situation.  

India and NZ head-to-head 

The two teams have met each other 59 times in whites. While India has won 21 of those, the Kiwis have won just 12 encounters. However, the recent trend seems to be evenly poised. In the last seven games, India and New Zealand have won three each and drawn one. 

One thing to be kept in mind is that the Blackcaps have won both the games against India at the WTC, becoming the only team against whom India has lost a series in this tournament. A one-off contest, the final, to decide the reigning champion after such a history - can this get more dramatic? 

Test cricket history at Southampton 

Only six Tests have ever been played at Rose Bowl, with three of them coming in 2020. Among the teams that are going to play the final, India has played at this venue twice. On both occasions in 2014 and 2018, it ended on the losing side 

New Zealand, on the other hand, has never played a Test here. Last year, West Indies won a Test against Pakistan at the Rose Bowl, becoming the only visiting team to win a game here. Another thing to be noted is that teams have scored 500+ only twice at this venue. 

The teams and their recent stint with ICC trophies 

While India has won the most recent ICC trophy between the team finalists, it came under former captain MS Dhoni. That’s right, the Men in Blue are yet to win an ICC trophy under Virat Kohli and he will aim to script his name on this historic silverware. 

As for the Kiwis, they’ve been in the last two World Cup finals - in 2019 and 2015. The Blackcaps will be desperate to shake off that tag of being the runners up in major events. They’ve even bet India to the top spot of the Test rankings with their win against England recently. Both teams mean business, and this encounter will be an enthralling one. 

Where to watch the WTC final? 

According to the ICC, the match will be streamed LIVE on the new ICC.tv platform. In India, you can watch the big showdown in five different languages - Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, on Hotstar. 

While fans in the Caribbean region can watch it on Flow Spots, US and Canada have multiple options, including Hotstar and Willow TV. Fans in New Zealand can watch it on Sky Sports. 

The teams will face off at 10.00 AM GMT or 3.30 PM IST from 18th June, 2021, to take home the ICC Test Championship Mace.