WEBDESK: India is set to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday, March 9 with the Black Caps expected to pose a formidable challenge. Having already played at the venue last Sunday, New Zealand will enter the contest well-prepared for the conditions – an advantage South Africa would have lacked if they had qualified.
In a rematch of Group A deciding game of the Champions Trophy, New Zealand will be looking for revenge against their Indian counterparts. In that game, India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs courtesy of Varun Chakaravarthy’s magnificent bowling spell where took 5 wickets for 42 runs.
Both teams have been in exceptional form throughout the tournament. That brings the question – can New Zealand conquer their ICC tournament demons (and India’s spinners) and take home the trophy?
Here’s how the two teams look like on paper:
Squads for IND vs NZ final
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Dubai International Stadium has traditionally favoured balanced contests between bat and ball. The pitch is expected to be on the slower side, assisting spinners as the match progresses. With dew likely to play a role, teams winning the toss might opt to chase.
The weather in Dubai is expected to be clear, ensuring an uninterrupted final. The dry conditions could make batting slightly challenging in the second innings, making a strong start crucial for both teams.
Head-to-Head
India became the first team to qualify for the final after a tense encounter with Australia in the semi-finals. The Rohit Sharma led team made history by reaching their third Champions Trophy final in a row, something no one has done before. Meanwhile, New Zealand put an another strong display against South Africa, winning by 50 runs, powered by centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
When it comes to their head-to-head record, India and New Zealand have faced each other 119 times in ODI cricket. Out of these 119 games, India have won 61 whereas New Zealand have come out victorious on 50 occasions. 7 matches ended without a result. 1 match ended as a tie.
However, New Zealand hold a type of psychological edge over India when it comes to ICC knockout games. The Black Caps have defeated India in 3 out of their previous 4 games in ICC knockout events, including the 2000 Champions Trophy final, the 2019 World Cup semi-final, and the 2021 World Test Championship final.
Player spotlight for IND vs NZ final
India: Varun Chakaravarthy
With his mystery spin still proving to be a nuisance for batters, Varun Chakaravarthy is one to watch out for in the Champions Trophy final. In their previous match against New Zealand, he took 5 wickets for 42 runs and caused all sorts of problems for the New Zealand batsmen. If he can emulate the same performance in the final, then India can easily take control of the game and lift the trophy.
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra, the current leading run-scorer of the Champions Trophy, is an up and coming superstar in the making. A player in sublime form, he scored 108 runs off 101 balls against South Africa in the semi-final and built a strong partnership with Kane Williamson for the 2nd wicket. Their stellar innings’ pushed the overall New Zealand score beyond 360 and helped them win the game. If New Zealand are to win, Rachin Ravindra would certainly have a big role to play.
Where to watch the IND vs NZ final
Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app
UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY
Read more: Mitchell Starc reveals reason behind skipping Champions Trophy
