India's men of steel Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane bracing for World Test Championship final

India’s mainstays in Test cricket—Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who have played a pivotal role in their journey over the last several years have already made their ‘special’ feeling about the World Test Championship.

Now, as they are preparing for one final contest to conquer the final frontier of New Zealand in the final, both opened up on the context of the Test Championship in terms of their career and the role it had played on the overall state of the game.

Pujara said that the WTC final would mean ‘a lot’ to him as he has not been part of any other Indian team and that it is the only opportunity for him to taste success in a global tournament.

“Personally, it means a lot to me because I am playing this one format and it is the most challenging format in cricket. So yeah, it means a lot and we have worked really hard as a team for over a period of time to reach here. So, I am sure all the guys are looking forward to his final and winning this final will mean a lot for us,” Pujara said in a video tweeted out by the host broadcaster of the WTC final, Star Sports.

On the other hand, India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who led the side to a heroic series win in Australia in face of severe adversity, said the Test Championship has reignited the meaning of bilateral series across the world. He said that the men in blue have been at their ‘best’ over the last couple of years to reach this far in the competition.

“It was not easy as in Test cricket you need to be at your best every day but we have played consistently well for over two years and the result is that we have reached the final of the World Test Championship. The Championship has made the game competitive as before it one could have come back in the series after sling the first game but the point system makes every innings and games important,” Rahane said in the video.

The World Test Championship final will commence on June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton and the onus of giving India a perfect platform and a strong finish will once again be on the shoulders of Pujara and Rahane.