The WTC Final 2021 between India and New Zealand was played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, England, from 18 to 23 June 2021. New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to become the first ICC World Test Championship winners. Kyle Jamieson was named Player of the Match after taking seven wickets, while Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten 52 in the successful fourth-innings chase.

The 2021 World Test Championship Final was one of the most important matches in modern Test cricket history.

For the first time, two teams competed in a single final to determine the world champions of Test cricket.

India entered the match under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, while New Zealand were led by Kane Williamson.

Both teams had performed consistently during the inaugural World Test Championship cycle from 2019 to 2021.

The final featured some of the world’s finest cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson.

Rain repeatedly interrupted the contest, forcing the match into the scheduled reserve day.

Despite losing substantial playing time, New Zealand produced a memorable performance to win the championship.

In this article, we explore the WTC Final 2021 full scorecard, match highlights, day-wise summary, player performances, records, India’s defeat and New Zealand’s historic victory.

Last updated: 6 November 2026

WTC Final 2021 Match Overview

The victory made New Zealand the inaugural World Test Championship winners.

WTC Final 2021 Full Scorecard

The final was a low-scoring contest in which seam bowling played an important role.

India vs New Zealand WTC Final 2021 Score Summary

Result: New Zealand won by eight wickets.

New Zealand secured a first-innings lead of 32 runs before dismissing India for 170 in their second innings.

That left the Black Caps needing 139 runs to win.

They successfully completed the chase with eight wickets remaining.

India First Innings Scorecard – 217 All Out

India began their innings under challenging conditions.

New Zealand’s fast bowlers used the movement available at Southampton to restrict India’s scoring.

India First Innings Batting

New Zealand Bowling

Key Highlights

India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, added 62 runs for the first wicket.

However, New Zealand struck regularly after the opening partnership.

Virat Kohli scored 44 runs from 132 deliveries, while Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 49.

Neither batter managed to reach a half-century.

Kyle Jamieson produced the standout bowling performance, taking five wickets for just 31 runs from 22 overs.

His victims included Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.

India were dismissed for 217.

New Zealand First Innings Scorecard – 249 All Out

New Zealand’s first innings was built around patient batting and important lower-order contributions.

New Zealand First Innings Batting

India Bowling

Key Highlights

Devon Conway scored 54 from 153 balls, providing stability at the top.

Kane Williamson played a patient innings of 49 from 177 deliveries.

India fought back through Mohammed Shami, who claimed four wickets.

Ishant Sharma also bowled effectively and took three wickets.

However, New Zealand’s lower order made important contributions.

Tim Southee scored 30 runs, while Kyle Jamieson added 21.

New Zealand reached 249 and gained a 32-run first-innings lead.

India Second Innings Scorecard – 170 All Out

India entered their second innings needing to build a substantial lead.

However, New Zealand’s pace attack again dominated the contest.

India Second Innings Batting Highlights

New Zealand Bowling

Rishabh Pant’s Fighting 41

Rishabh Pant was India’s highest run-scorer in the second innings.

He scored 41 from 88 balls.

Pant attempted to counterattack and increase India’s lead.

However, he eventually fell to Trent Boult.

His dismissal reduced India’s chances of setting a challenging target.

Kyle Jamieson Dismissed Virat Kohli Again

One of the most important moments came when Jamieson dismissed Kohli for 13.

Jamieson had already removed the Indian captain in the first innings.

His second dismissal of Kohli was a major breakthrough on the reserve day.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult then helped finish India’s innings.

India were dismissed for 170, leaving New Zealand a target of 139.

New Zealand Second Innings Scorecard – 140/2

New Zealand needed 139 runs to win the first World Test Championship.

India’s bowlers created some pressure early, but New Zealand’s experienced middle order guided the team home.

New Zealand Second Innings Batting

India Bowling

Kane Williamson’s Match-Winning 52*

Williamson remained unbeaten on 52 from 89 balls.

His innings included eight boundaries.

The New Zealand captain showed patience early before playing more attacking shots as the target approached.

Ross Taylor’s Unbeaten 47

Ross Taylor scored 47 not out from 100 balls.

He joined Williamson after New Zealand had lost both openers.

The pair added an unbeaten 96 runs for the third wicket.

Taylor hit the winning runs to complete a historic victory.

WTC Final 2021 Day-by-Day Match Report

The final was originally scheduled for five days, with an additional reserve day available because of potential interruptions.

Rain played a major role in the match.

Day 1 – 18 June 2021: No Play Due to Rain

The opening day was completely washed out.

Persistent rain prevented the toss and any cricket from taking place.

Fans had to wait until the second day for the match to begin.

Day 2 – 19 June 2021: India Reach 146/3

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a steady start.

However, the New Zealand fast bowlers made important breakthroughs.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane helped India recover.

India finished the day at 146/3.

Bad light caused further interruptions.

Day 3 – 20 June 2021: Jamieson’s Five-Wicket Haul

Kyle Jamieson dismissed Virat Kohli and completed an outstanding five-wicket haul.

India were bowled out for 217.

New Zealand began their first innings and reached 101/2 by the end of the day’s play.

Devon Conway scored an important half-century.

Day 4 – 21 June 2021: Rain Washes Out Play

Persistent rain prevented any play.

The entire fourth day was abandoned.

This increased the importance of the reserve day.

Day 5 – 22 June 2021: New Zealand Take the Lead

New Zealand resumed at 101/2.

Kane Williamson played a patient innings of 49.

Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma helped India fight back.

New Zealand were dismissed for 249, gaining a 32-run lead.

India reached 64/2 in their second innings at stumps.

Reserve Day – 23 June 2021: New Zealand Become Champions

The reserve day decided the championship.

India lost Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara early.

Rishabh Pant scored 41, but New Zealand dismissed India for 170.

Chasing 139, New Zealand lost both openers to Ravichandran Ashwin.

Williamson and Taylor then built a match-winning partnership.

New Zealand reached 140/2 and won by eight wickets.

The Black Caps became the first World Test Champions.

Kyle Jamieson – Player of the Match

Kyle Jamieson was the standout performer in the final.

Kyle Jamieson’s Bowling Figures

Jamieson finished with match figures of 7/61.

His accuracy, bounce and movement troubled India’s batters throughout the match.

He dismissed Virat Kohli in both innings.

His five-wicket haul in the first innings and early wickets on the reserve day played a major role in New Zealand’s victory.

Jamieson deservedly received the Player of the Match award.

Best Batting Performances in the WTC Final 2021

No Indian batter scored a half-century in the match.

New Zealand’s batting was not significantly more aggressive, but important contributions throughout the order helped them gain a decisive advantage.

Best Bowling Performances in the WTC Final 2021

Jamieson delivered the best innings figures of the match.

Southee’s four wickets in India’s second innings were equally important in restricting the target.

WTC Final 2021 Records and Historic Achievements

1. New Zealand Became the First World Test Champions

New Zealand won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, making history as the first team to lift the Test championship mace through a WTC final.

2. Kyle Jamieson Took Seven Wickets

Jamieson finished with seven wickets for 61 runs.

His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

3. New Zealand Won by Eight Wickets

New Zealand completed the chase of 139 with eight wickets remaining.

4. Kane Williamson Led New Zealand to the Title

Williamson became the first captain to win an ICC World Test Championship final.

5. Williamson and Taylor Added 96 Runs

Their unbeaten third-wicket partnership helped New Zealand recover from 44/2.

6. Mohammed Shami Took Four Wickets

Shami was India’s leading wicket-taker in New Zealand’s first innings, finishing with 4/76.

7. Ravichandran Ashwin Took the Most Wickets in the 2019–21 WTC Cycle

Ashwin finished the inaugural championship cycle with 71 wickets.

His two wickets in New Zealand’s final innings took him past Pat Cummins in the competition’s wicket-taking list.

8. The Final Used a Reserve Day

Rain prevented play on the first and fourth days.

The scheduled reserve day was required to complete the match.

9. BJ Watling Played His Final Test

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling retired from international cricket after the final.

He ended his Test career as a World Test Championship winner.

10. New Zealand Added Another Major ICC Trophy

The title was New Zealand’s second major men’s ICC tournament triumph, following their victory in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

Why Did India Lose the WTC Final 2021?

India entered the final with a strong batting line-up and experienced bowlers.

However, several factors contributed to their defeat.

1. Failure to Build Big Partnerships

India’s opening partnership of 62 was promising.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane also built a useful partnership.

However, India could not convert these starts into a substantial first-innings total.

2. No Indian Batter Scored a Half-Century

Ajinkya Rahane’s 49 was India’s highest score in the first innings.

Rishabh Pant’s 41 was the team’s best effort in the second.

India needed at least one batter to play a longer innings.

3. Kyle Jamieson’s Outstanding Bowling

Jamieson consistently troubled India’s batters.

His dismissals of Virat Kohli in both innings were particularly important.

4. India’s Second-Innings Collapse

India resumed the reserve day at 64/2.

However, they were dismissed for 170.

The relatively small target gave New Zealand a strong opportunity to win.

5. New Zealand’s Better Use of Conditions

New Zealand’s seam bowlers maintained pressure throughout the match.

Their disciplined approach helped restrict India in both innings.

6. Williamson and Taylor’s Experience

Even after losing two wickets, New Zealand remained composed.

Williamson and Taylor ensured the chase did not become a dramatic collapse.

India Playing XI – WTC Final 2021

India selected two spin-bowling all-rounders alongside three specialist fast bowlers.

New Zealand Playing XI – WTC Final 2021

New Zealand relied heavily on their seam-bowling attack, with Colin de Grandhomme providing an additional bowling option.

What Was the World Test Championship 2019–2021?

The ICC World Test Championship was introduced to give greater context to bilateral Test series.

The inaugural cycle began in August 2019.

Nine teams participated in the competition.

They earned points through eligible Test series.

The top two teams in the championship standings qualified for the final.

India and New Zealand eventually secured the two final places.

The competition was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused several scheduled series to be postponed or cancelled.

The ICC later used percentage of points earned to determine the standings.

The final was played at Southampton in June 2021.

Why Was Southampton Selected for the WTC Final?

The Hampshire Bowl in Southampton hosted the final.

The venue provided facilities suitable for staging international cricket under the health and operational restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stadium also offered accommodation and facilities that supported a controlled environment for players and officials.

Southampton’s weather became a major talking point after rain disrupted multiple days.

What Happened After the WTC Final 2021?

New Zealand celebrated a historic championship victory.

Kane Williamson’s leadership, Kyle Jamieson’s bowling and the experience of Ross Taylor played central roles in the achievement.

For India, the defeat was disappointing.

However, reaching the inaugural WTC final demonstrated India’s consistency in Test cricket during the 2019–21 cycle.

India returned to the WTC final in 2023 but lost to Australia at The Oval.

New Zealand’s 2021 triumph remains one of the country’s greatest Test cricket achievements.

Interesting Facts About WTC Final 2021

1. The first WTC final was played between India and New Zealand.
2. Southampton hosted the match.
3. Virat Kohli captained India.
4. Kane Williamson captained New Zealand.
5. New Zealand won the toss and bowled first.
6. India scored 217 in their first innings.
7. Kyle Jamieson took five wickets for 31 runs.
8. Devon Conway scored 54 in New Zealand’s first innings.
9. Mohammed Shami took four wickets for India.
10. New Zealand gained a 32-run first-innings lead.
11. India were dismissed for 170 in their second innings.
12. Tim Southee took four wickets in India’s second innings.
13. New Zealand needed 139 runs to win.
14. Kane Williamson scored 52 not out.
15. Ross Taylor remained unbeaten on 47.
16. Williamson and Taylor added 96 runs for the third wicket.
17. New Zealand won by eight wickets.
18. Kyle Jamieson was Player of the Match.
19. Rain washed out two full days.
20. The reserve day was used to complete the final.

Frequently Asked Questions About WTC Final 2021

1. Who won the WTC Final 2021?

New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets.

2. Where was the WTC Final 2021 played?

At the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, England.

3. When was the WTC Final 2021 played?

From 18 to 23 June 2021, including the reserve day.

4. Who captained India?

Virat Kohli.

5. Who captained New Zealand?

Kane Williamson.

6. What was India’s first-innings score?

217 all out.

7. What was New Zealand’s first-innings score?

249 all out.

8. What was India’s second-innings score?

170 all out.

9. What was New Zealand’s final score?

140/2.

10. What was New Zealand’s winning margin?

Eight wickets.

11. Who was Player of the Match?

Kyle Jamieson.

12. How many wickets did Kyle Jamieson take?

Seven wickets in the match.

13. What were Jamieson’s best bowling figures?

5/31 in India’s first innings.

14. How many runs did Virat Kohli score?

44 in the first innings and 13 in the second, for a total of 57.

15. Who was India’s highest run-scorer in the first innings?

Ajinkya Rahane with 49.

16. Who scored the most runs for India in the second innings?

Rishabh Pant with 41.

17. Who scored a half-century for New Zealand in the first innings?

Devon Conway scored 54.

18. How many runs did Kane Williamson score in the chase?

52 not out.

19. How many runs did Ross Taylor score in the chase?

47 not out.

20. What was New Zealand’s target?

139 runs.

21. Who took the most wickets for India in New Zealand’s first innings?

Mohammed Shami, with four wickets.

22. Who took India’s two wickets in the final innings?

Ravichandran Ashwin.

23. Why was a reserve day used?

Rain and poor weather caused substantial interruptions during the scheduled five days.

24. How many full days were washed out?

Two days: Day 1 and Day 4.

25. Who was the first World Test Championship-winning captain?

Kane Williamson.

26. Did Jasprit Bumrah take a wicket in the final?

No. Bumrah finished wicketless.

27. Was the WTC Final 2021 a draw?

No. New Zealand won on the reserve day.

28. Who scored the winning runs?

Ross Taylor.

29. Did India reach the next WTC final?

Yes. India reached the 2023 final against Australia.

30. Why is the 2021 WTC final historic?

It was the first final of the ICC World Test Championship and produced the inaugural Test world champions.

Conclusion

The WTC Final 2021 between India and New Zealand was a landmark moment in Test cricket history.

Despite repeated rain interruptions, the match produced a memorable contest between two outstanding teams.

India fought hard with both bat and ball, but New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack and experienced batters proved decisive.

Kyle Jamieson’s seven-wicket performance, Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 52 and Ross Taylor’s 47 not out were central to New Zealand’s victory.

The Black Caps successfully chased 139 runs and won by eight wickets.

Their victory made them the first ICC World Test Champions.

For India, the defeat was disappointing, but the match remains an important part of the country’s World Test Championship history.

The 2021 final demonstrated why Test cricket continues to reward patience, discipline, skill and teamwork.

For more historic Test matches, World Test Championship records, cricket scorecards and player statistics, visit CricketGatha – Cricket Ki Har Kahani.