New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has beseeched the cricket-mad Indian fans to root for his team in the World Cup final against four-time
winners Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"To every cricket fan in India, I know you understand the hunger for a World Cup. And I have already seen a wave of support from you guys towards us. Thank you!" McCullum wrote in his autographed letter released as a statement. 

"We need every bit of it and I request your support towards New Zealand all the way, through every ball, in the final," the hard-hitting batsman wrote.

"It's the biggest game of our career and over a billion voices rooting for us will definitely count," the 33-year-old batting superstar concluded.

New Zealand have never won the Cup since its inception in 1975 and would be playing in the summit contest for the first time. 

Their trans-Tasman rival Australia have won the coveted crown in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.