Gill: Our Hope for Victory at Lord's is Very High

India’s shining cricket star, Shubman Gill, recently took the sports world back to 2021 with his remarks, revisiting the first ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The defeat against New Zealand in this pinnacle of Test cricket left deep scars on Indian fans and players alike. In his latest interview, Gill revealed details that shed light on the optimism in the Indian dressing room on the final day of that unforgettable final, followed by immense disappointment. Gill noted that heading into the decisive sixth and final day, team morale was remarkably positive. India needed roughly 150 more runs to win and had eight wickets in hand, which was a significant advantage. Gill shared the emotions of that time, saying, "We were all very optimistic. I, Rohit (Sharma), Virat (Kohli), and Rishabh (Pant) believed we would win. The weather was nice, the sun was out, and conditions seemed perfect for batting. Among ourselves, we were saying, 'If Rohit and Virat can bat together for a session, we’ll comfortably win this match.'" These words capture the high confidence in the Indian camp during those crucial moments of the match. ## Turning Point: Kyle Jamieson Steps Up However, cricket once again proved it’s a game of moments. Just as India’s hopes were flourishing, New Zealand's towering fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, known for his sharp deliveries, changed the course of the match single-handedly. As Gill emphasized, everything turned in an instant. Jamieson swiftly dismissing both the team captain Virat Kohli and the steadfast Cheteshwar Pujara shattered the backbone of India's batting lineup. The loss of these two critical wickets led to a collapse not only on the scoreboard but also in the minds of the Indian players. The consecutive dismissals of Kohli and Pujara broke the team’s resistance, and the remaining batsmen couldn’t withstand New Zealand’s intensifying pressure. India, once hopeful, ended the day in a massive defeat, losing all their wickets at just 170 runs and lost the match by 8 wickets. This was not just a final defeat; it was the painful experience of narrowly missing out on Test cricket's biggest prize. Shubman Gill summarized the sentiment by saying, "To lose when we were so close to winning the World Cup of Test cricket was an indescribable disappointment." ## The Final at Southampton: More Than Just a Match Though many news sources and URLs mentioned the match was held at cricket’s sacred ground, Lord's, this historic final was actually played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This detail highlights the unique conditions of the match. After a grueling league marathon over two years, India and New Zealand faced off to become the first world champions of Test cricket. India, marked as favorites with memorable performances like the historic series win in Australia, had made it to the final under the leadership of Virat Kohli and boasted one of the world's strongest batting lineups. However, England's fickle weather and New Zealand's fast bowlers adapting perfectly to these conditions entirely changed the equation. Although rain affected much of the match, results were achieved on the added sixth ‘Reserve Day.’ ## Victory for New Zealand’s Golden Generation On the other hand, it was a turning point for Kane Williamson Captained New Zealand. Despite consistently performing at high levels for years, this team hadn’t managed to secure a significant ICC tournament victory. The final presented an opportunity for Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, and Trent Boult—members of the ‘golden generation’—to crown their careers with a world cup win. The Man of the Match, Kyle Jamieson, was a critical pillar of this victory. His ability to move the ball both ways and the additional bounce from his height presented an almost insurmountable puzzle for Indian batsmen. Jamieson, with a total of seven wickets during the match (including 5 in the first innings), broke India’s resistance. Captain Kane Williamson’s composed and crucial batting in both innings was another major factor leading his team to victory. This triumph held special meaning as it marked New Zealand’s first major trophy since the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000. ## The Aftermath and Lessons from the Defeat For India, the defeat at Southampton carried implications far beyond a final loss, sparking considerable debate. Particularly, the decision to play with two spin bowlers (Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) on England’s seam and swing-friendly pitches was heavily criticized post-match. Many experts argued that considering the conditions, an additional fast bowler would have been a more strategic choice. This final also marked the beginning of India’s recurring struggle in crucial knockout matches of ICC tournaments in recent years. After this 2021 defeat, India again lost to Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship Final, remaining just a step away from the trophy once more. This situation raised questions about why the team couldn’t replicate its league stage dominance in the finals. Shubman Gill’s candid reflections years later show how the most significant victories and the most painful losses leave lasting imprints on an athlete’s career. What transpired at Southampton that day is not merely a scorecard but a saga filled with hope, disappointment, strategic mistakes, and indelible memories etched in the minds of a generation. India may have lost that day, but the lessons from that final continue to shape the future of Indian cricket.