Soon after New Zealand won the World Test Championship final in Southampton, losing skipper Virat Kohli spoke out about the format of the competition’s finale, suggesting a change to the current setup by replacing it with a three-match series instead to decide the winner.

The end of the historic six-day Test saw New Zealand being crowned inaugural champions of the format, bringing an end to a two-year cycle that saw India finish at the top of the points table. Kohli acknowledged that Williamson & Co were the better side, but wasn’t convinced with the existing system in place that earned them the title over India.

Kohli maintained that he was “not in absolute agreement of the deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game”, but felt that “pressure applied over two days of good cricket” can’t suddenly make a team “not a good Test side anymore.”

“I think it has to be a hard grind,” Kohli said in the post-match press conference, “and something that definitely needs to be worked on in the future to really — at the end of three matches, there’s effort, there’s ups and downs, there’s situations changing throughout the course of the series, a chance to rectify the things that you’ve done wrong in the first game and then really see who’s the better side over the course of a three-match series or something will be a good measure of how things really are, so we are not too bothered by this result because we understand, as I said, as a Test side what we’ve done over the last three, four years, not just over the last 18 months but over the last three, four years.”

“So this is not a measure of who we are as a team and the ability and the potential we have had for so many years now.”

Winning captain Kane Williamson wasn’t necessarily in favour of a multi-match final though. “The one-off factor does bring a unique dynamic,” he said, “which does make it exciting and all these sorts of things, and on any given day anything can happen. We’ve been on all different sides of that statement.”

Twitter users didn’t take too kindly to Kohli’s suggestion, which came right after his side had been trumped in the final. While some wondered if the timing was right to suggest an alternative format, others pointed out that a packed international calendar wouldn’t accommodate such a series.

Where in the schedule would it fit in ?? Are the IPL going to reduce the year of the final tournament by 2 weeks so it could fit in ? Doubt it ..: Finals are one off games where teams/individuals know they have to deliver … that’s what makes them so great 👍 https://t.co/MhqHkp5lvH

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 24, 2021

Rubbish. It’s like saying if you lose the toss, toss again

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) June 24, 2021

Is Kohli going to sit on the committees and wrestle with the boards and broadcasters to actually make this possible? I cannot see a single country, least of all India, being prepared to give up that much calendar space. England literally played a T20I today #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/iSkn1dyLGp

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) June 24, 2021

Genuinely cannot get over laughing at Kohli asking for a best of three after NZ boshed them 😂😂😂😂

— 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎 𝑩𝒂𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 (@ThomBucksHerald) June 24, 2021

Kohli says India deserved a best of three WTC Final series.

Unless of course India won the first Test and then that would be enough otherwise it would clash with the IPL

— Dennis PSL Final (@DennisCricket_) June 24, 2021

Does sound like some sour grapes from Virat, and pretty tacky straight after the game. A one-off final is exciting and unpredictable, and the Kiwis deserved the win this time around.

— Dominique Armstrong (@strongarmdom) June 24, 2021

Finals should always be a one-off rather than a test series. Otherwise all world cup finals should be a series to prove the best team in any sport. Farcical comment by Kohli.

— Wasif Ahmed (@wasifkahmed) June 24, 2021

Will he say the same statement had India won the game? Let’s be honest: New Zealand played exceptional cricket and won it with respect. Let’s applaud them and give credit to their team. India – nothing to worry, we’ve come this far and we are proud of our boys

— Padma Swaroop M (@Padma_Swaroop) June 24, 2021

Got a lot of time for Kohli calling for the World Test final to be best of three after India lost.

It's the same energy as when you lost at Rock, Paper, Scissors as a kid and tried to keep it going in the desperate hopes you might eventually win.

— Andrew (@AMSinclair97) June 24, 2021

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