On Sunday, India vs New Zealand, the ICC Champions Trophy Final will deliver some bangers as the Black Caps are set to take revenge for the last game that they played against India in Dubai.
New Zealand, who tasted defeat in their last encounter, are ready to face India knowing all the conditions.
Who will stand out this time? Will India turn the tables this time as a heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup Semifinal, or will New Zealand stun India again?
New Zealand’s Resilience
India defeated New Zealand on March 2 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, defending their target of 249 by bowling out the Black Caps for 205 in 45.3 overs. The 44-run defeat faced by New Zealand was humiliating as New Zealand has always been able to perform impressively in ICC tournaments.
New Zealand’s resilience and tactical performance were seen last night against South Africa, where they ended up scoring 362 by losing just six wickets. Rachin Ravindra 108 and Kane Williamson’s 102 helped New Zealand to set up a massive chase, and that too in a high-pressure stage of the tournament.
New Zealand is into the seventh ICC final and fourth in the ODI format by beating South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore. With the victory over South Africa, New Zealand is set to face the strong team, India, as they are meeting each other after 20 years in the final of a white-ball ICC event.
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New Zealand’s Spin Attack
The spin bowling resources of New Zealand are like India’s, which will be led by the captain himself, Mitchel Santner. The left-arm spinner has proved to be dangerous in this tournament, picking up the wickets at any given time. The other three spin bowling options are Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Michael Bracewell.
Although Varun Chakravarthy bagged five wickets by just giving away 42 runs in their last match against New Zealand, the Kiwis’ spinners, Santner (1 wicket), Rachin Ravindra (1 wicket), and Micheal Bracewell (0 wicket), were not as effective.
The variety in spin attack will provide Kiwis with the upper hand advantage over India. However, India crushed the bowling lineup during their last game.
This time, in the ICC Champions Trophy Final, New Zealand has prepared to deal with them and might come up with a strategic plan to play in these conditions.
New Zealand’s Seamers
During their last clash, New Zealand surprised India with the seamers and the ability to generate extra swings with the new ball. Kiwis have strong seamers who are all tall, which can provide more time in the air, creating an opportunity to get that momentum in the air.
Kiwis’ reliable seamer Matt Henry was able to take five wickets by just giving away 42 runs against India in the last match. However, during the clash between India and Australia in the first semi-final, Mohammad Shami proved to be an exceptional seamer as he took three wickets in a condition that favors spinners a lot.
Despite this, Dubai’s pitch has favored spinners in India’s last three matches. The quality of the pacers that New Zealand has brought will create a different momentum.
The extra bounce that seamers can create has troubled Men in Blue’s top order across all formats, especially in ICC events.
New Zealand’s Exceptional Fielding
New Zealand has been exceptional in the field as well. They have shown time and again that they can save 40-50 runs in the field.
The outstanding catch taken by Glenn Phillips against India in their last match, which also of Virat Kohli, has set the team’s mark that they can turn half-chances into catches easily.
With the gunfielders all around the field, India will have to play cautiously, as the Kiwis blindly dive around and can create a chance for a run-out. India, knowing this fielding attack, has created extra pressure on them.
Final Thoughts
While New Zealand’s only defeat came against India, they are seeking revenge, but team India will be again looking forward to beating the Kiwis as they have confidence after their last game.
The condition that Dubai presents to both teams will be something that needs to be looked forward to. Any team that will be able to cash in a spinner at a particular moment will be handed an easy victory.
Looking at past ICC events finals, New Zealand defeated India in the 2021 World Test Championship final, while India is aiming for a trophy once again.
Fans around the world can watch the ICC Champions Trophy Final on the Star Sports Network and stream it on the JioHotstar app.
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