The much-anticipated World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will finally begin at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday. The clash between the top-ranked sides in Test cricket will determine who will take home the inaugural WTC trophy. Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson are two greats of the modern era but both, as leaders, are yet to win a major ICC tournament. While Kohli came astonishingly close to get his hands on the silverware in 2017 when India lost in the Champions Trophy final, New Zealand suffered a heartbreak in the final of 50-over World Cup to England in 2019. Fans around the world are waiting anxiously to see the two sides go head-to-head but the weather forecast in Southampton might play a huge role in what is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the year.
On Friday, the BCCI tweeted a couple of pictures from the stadium, with covers on the pitch and adjoining parts of the field.
Throughout the WTC final, there will be cloud cover in Southampton with chances of rain on all five days of the Test match.
According to weather forecast website AccuWeather, there is a 65 per cent chance of rain on the first day, followed by 60 per cent on Day 2. Day 3 sees a drop in the prediction with a 56 per cent chance of rain, with 65 per cent on Day 4 and 63 per cent on Day 5.
The weather forecast of reserve day, June 23 (25 per cent), has a slightly less probability for rain.
Team India, who arrived in London earlier this month, will go into the summit clash with just a few practice sessions and an intra-squad match under their belt while New Zealand are fresh of a Test series win over hosts England.