Champions Trophy 2025: Familiar foes New Zealand better prepped than any opponent has been against India | Cricket News – The Times of India

TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Karachi to Rawalpindi to Dubai to Lahore to again in Dubai. Last few weeks have seen New Zealand play their 4 Champions Trophy fixtures at 4 totally different venues they usually have solely misplaced one recreation – to India in Dubai. Three days after dropping the sport, the Black Caps have landed in Dubai once more to organize for the title conflict of the multi-nation match on March 9.
The two prime sides within the match have had a contrasting journey to the ultimate as New Zealand acclimitised to totally different situations for all their video games and India had been parked in Dubai since February 15, and performed all their fixtures on the Dubai International Stadium.
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Even of their solely defeat, the Mitchell Santner-led unit posed a stiff problem for India however fell quick of the goal by 44 runs. Unbeaten India have managed to tick most of the containers of their outings however they should be cautious of the Kiwis who’re probably the most ready staff within the competitors, and will certainly have a rating to decide on Sunday. They have encountered totally different challenges at totally different venues and have come out on prime in spite of the non-cease journey, and have excelled within the artwork of adapting to totally different situations.
They did put India below the pump early within the group stage contest however a strong restore job and late flourish meant there have been simply sufficient runs for the spin quartet of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy to defend. Varun, who picked a fifer on his maiden outing within the match, tormented the opposition batters however they did put up a combat and had Kane Williamson, 81, obtained some help from the opposite finish, it may have been a a lot nearer contest.
On paper, little or no separates the 2 groups as they’ve a really comparable make-up of the Playing XI and there’s no dearth of expertise in each camps. If India have the potent spin quartet, Santner has Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell and even Glenn Phillips to play the help solid. And so far as quicks are involved, New Zealand positively maintain the sting as spin-heavy method means India are reliant on Mohammed Shami to do the heavy lifting and solely has Hardik Pandya to do the help job.
More than the same make-up and skill to seamlessly adapt, what would make India cautious of New Zealand is the truth that they are going to for the primary time play an opposition which has had a current style of Dubai situations. The situations which have been on the sluggish facet and favoured spin. Yes, the seamers – Shami and Matt Henry – have loved success however the slower bowlers have had a much bigger impression on the match.
New Zealand have embraced the challenges with out any complaints and have set-up a mouth-watering repeat of the 2000 version of the Champions Trophy. Senior batter Kane Williamson stated the staff will take learnings from their final assembly into the ultimate, and reiterated that something can occur within the remaining.
“India are an outstanding team and is playing really well. So, look, it’s important we try and take away some learnings from that last game. Park this match, and in a final, anything can happen. And it was a great atmosphere last game and I’m sure it’ll be a good one again,” stated Williamson after the win over South Africa within the semis.

On the anticipated strains, Williamson was requested a well-recognized query on the benefit India have of enjoying on the identical venue. The skilled campaigner responded with the straight bat and selected to give attention to the cricket they want to play within the title conflict.

“I suppose having played there on a number of occasions; there’s real clarity in how they want to operate. A little bit like our opportunity here, having played a number of times at this venue as well and I think that’s part and parcel in cricket. So, it’s just not something we’re really looking too closely at. It’s about the cricket that we want to play and take into account, obviously, the opposition, but be nice and smart come that final,” added Williamson.
New Zealand have few extra days to do what they’ve seamlessly managed within the match to this point – acclimitise and take the problem head on.