India The New 'Chokers' Of International Cricket?

After their loss in the World Test Championship (WTC) final to New Zealand on Wednesday, India have now become the new chokers of international cricket, having fallen at the semi-final and final hurdl

The Indian team was exceptional in the league stage, having a better win percentage than New Zealand. India had a win percentage of 70.6, having won 12 of the 17 Tests they played. New Zealand, on the other hand, had a win percentage of 63.6, having won seven of the 11 matches they played.

Importantly, India won two of the three overseas series they played while New Zealand won none out of the two series they played abroad. "If you look at the recent records, the Indian team gets under pressure," said Madan Lal.

While in some of the finals, like the 2017 Champions Trophy of the 2019 World Cup semi-final, they were completely outplayed, in others like the WTC final, they lost from a position where they were in no danger of losing.

"I think it helps being an underdog. It (the occasion) doesn't bog you down. Having said that they need to handle that better," said Madan Lal who was part of a World Cup-winning team, an underdog India. Kohli said that one game couldn't decide the best side.

"I am not in absolute agreement of the deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game, to be very honest. We are not too bothered by this result because we understand, as I said, as a Test side what we have done over the last three-four years, not just over the last 18 months," he said. In many ways, India have begun to resemble the South Africa of yesteryear -- consistent throughout a tournament, but off-colour towards the end.