NZ series key to India’s WTC final chances: Sanjay Bangar

Ex-India cricketers Sanjay Bangar (left) and Cheteshwar Pujara at Matunga Gymkhana on Thursday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Former Test all-rounder and ex-Team India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar believes that the upcoming two-Test away series against New Zealand, starting at Wellington on November 19, will be crucial as far as India's qualification for the World Test Championship final is concerned.

"The bowling depth is there so it all depends on whether everybody remains fit, and the good part is, I think Bumrah's workload has been managed quite well leading into this particular series. This becomes the most important series if India has to qualify [for WTC final] because you would expect India to do well in the [five-match] home series against Australia. If India do not have a successful New Zealand series, then that generally will mean that India may well be out of contention [for WTC final]," Bangar said on the sidelines of the inauguration of former Mumbai and Karnataka cricketer Anand Yalvigi's Spin and Swing Cricket Academy at Matunga Gymkhana on Thursday.

Former Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara also graced the occasion.

Team India are currently placed fifth in WTC standings with Australia and New Zealand occupying the top two positions respectively.

When asked whether NZ pitches will help Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, Bangar added: "I think the support bowlers are also going to be critical because if pacers Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep [are playing], so if you're playing four of them, that leaves the lower-order a little bit thin but then certainly India have the resources to bowl New Zealand out twice."