All you need to know

Where: Ageas Bowl, Southampton

When: Friday-Tuesday (9.30pm starts NZ time). Wednesday reserve day if needed.

New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (c), Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ajaz Patel, Matt Henry, Will Young, Tom Blundell.

India (from): Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma,Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Wriddhiman Saha.

TAB odds: India $2.70, New Zealand $2.70, draw $2.37.

Who takes the last spot in New Zealand’s XI?

One spot remains up for grabs in New Zealand’s side for the World Test Championship decider. Coach Gary Stead and captain Kane Williamson will need to decide whether they go with allrounder Colin de Grandhomme or left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who took his chance in the second-test win over England, taking four wickets. They could potentially opt to play both, but that would mean one of the four frontline seamers would have to miss out.

What role will spin play in Southampton?

India boast brilliant offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin in their bowling arsenal, but spin hasn’t played a huge role in recent times at the Ageas Bowl. England played three tests at the venue last summer and just 12 of 72 wickets fell to spin across those matches. Those statistics could sway New Zealand to go with de Grandhomme, who could be a major threat with his nagging medium-pacers.

Are India heading in underdone?

New Zealand head into the final brimming with confidence after a rare away test series win over England. Two tests against England provided valuable match-play and time in the middle and at the bowling crease. There could be some rust from India early in the test match with their preparation limited to an intersquad match. If India falter in the first innings with bat and ball, they might rue not getting to England earlier and scheduling in another match.

Will Kohli punish the Black Caps?

If India are to lift the inaugural World Test Championship title, batting genius and captain Virat Kohli will need to make his presence felt. Kohli battled against the Black Caps seamers when the sides last met in New Zealand in a two-test series last year, scoring 38 runs across four innings with a highest score of 19. New Zealand also removed Kohli cheaply in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, for one. The Black Caps have got the better of Kohli in recent times and he’ll be desperate to fire in the final.