Before India’s practice session in Dubai, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir were deep in discussion. It’s likely they were strategizing for the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Key topics might have included New Zealand’s dangerous players: Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, and especially Rachin Ravindra.
Rachin Ravindra, the 25-year-old all-rounder, has rapidly become a major force in cricket. His five ODI centuries in recent ICC events are remarkable, surpassing even New Zealand legend Kane Williamson’s record in such tournaments. India needs to dismiss Ravindra early before he can dominate the game, especially after his century in the semifinal against South Africa, where he was named player of the match.
Matt Henry’s presence may evoke memories of the 2019 match in Manchester, where he dismantled India’s batting lineup. India must prevent Henry from causing early damage again. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill need to effectively counter his bowling. Rumors of an injury to Henry add to the anticipation and concern for the Indian team.
Kane Williamson is improving with experience. Without the pressure of captaincy, he’s playing freely and confidently, posing a significant threat to India’s bowlers. Dismissing him early, whether against pace or spin, will be crucial, especially as he also comes into the final on the back of a semifinal century.
Mitchell Santner is another key threat. This subtle spinner can control batsmen effectively. His matchup against Virat Kohli, who has sometimes struggled against quality spin, will be particularly interesting.
New Zealand’s exceptional fielding is another important factor. The final could become a battle between India’s strong batting and New Zealand’s outstanding fielding. Their athleticism and anticipation in the field are unmatched and could be decisive in the game.
Dew is unlikely to be a factor, so the toss might not be crucial. New Zealand may prefer to bat first to challenge Varun Chakravarthy’s spin. India is comfortable chasing or setting a target, so the toss outcome is less critical for them.
India is considered the stronger team. However, historically, despite often being favored, India has lost more often than won against New Zealand in major ICC tournaments.
Team News:
India has recently used two pacers and four spinners, including Varun Chakaravarthy, due to Hardik Pandya’s new-ball bowling. This lineup suits Dubai conditions and is likely to remain unchanged.
There might be consideration to replace Kuldeep Yadav with a pacer like Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, as Yadav hasn’t been at his best in the last two games. However, captain Rohit Sharma tends to back proven players.
Probable India XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand Team:
New Zealand is also expected to field their semifinal-winning team, keeping Devon Conway on the bench. They also have four spinners: Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra, fitting for the conditions.
Matt Henry’s shoulder injury is a concern, but he is expected to recover. If not, Nathan Smith or Jacob Duffy could replace him. There might be temptation to include Devon Conway to counter India’s left-arm spinners, but Will Young is likely to retain his place due to recent form.
Probable New Zealand XI:
Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Matt Henry/Nathan Smith.
