The final time India and New Zealand met in a final of an ICC white-ball event the world of cricket was far completely different. That competitors was referred to as ICC Knockouts, One-Day Internationals dominated the game’s panorama, cricket in the Middle East simply meant Sharjah and T20 was nonetheless three years away.
1 / 4 of a century later, the identical outfits, now among the many greatest all-round sides in the world, will sq. off for glory and $2.24 million prize cash after they meet in the summit conflict of the Champions Trophy on the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The two sides, with related depth in their squads, appeared essentially the most sorted among the many eight in the lead-up to the occasion. And it isn’t wholly shocking they’ve made it to this point.
On the batting entrance, each have openers who may give blazing begins, a talismanic participant at No. 3 who can anchor an innings whereas sustaining a excessive strike-rate and extremely expert batters decrease down who can swap gears seamlessly.
In bowling, New Zealand has a barely higher tempo assault with its tall quicks who can transfer the ball round and generate awkward bounce. The spin-bowling division – although not world class – isn’t wanting choices both, marshalled as it’s by the wily Mitchell Santner.
India, on the opposite hand, has an eclectic mixture of wicket-taking tweakers – two left-arm orthodox spinners, a left-arm wrist-spinner and a right-arm spinner whose thriller is lengthy enduring.
Rohit Sharma’s males have lived as much as their billing because the event favourites, reaching the final unbeaten. The squad’s success to this point has been the epitome of teamwork with almost each member who has stepped on to the park having made a big contribution.
Captain Rohit could not have massive scores however has led from the entrance via his uncompromisingly aggressive strategy in the PowerPlay. Virat Kohli has performed an important function in victories towards Pakistan and Australia (semifinal), making difficult chases look straightforward enterprise.
The middle- and lower-orders too have stepped up, and the expertise of getting the staff out of delicate conditions may come in useful in a high-pressure recreation.
The sluggish surfaces in Dubai have allowed the spinners to rule the roost via the middle-overs, and scoring boundaries with out taking large dangers has been arduous. It is right here that India, the top-ranked outfit in the world, has managed to trump each opponent.
The pitch for the final would be the identical because the one used for the India versus Pakistan conflict two weeks in the past. The former chased down 242 that day, and the floor is anticipated to behave equally, serving to slower bowlers.
If there may be one staff that may cease India, it’s New Zealand, which has the required all-around steadiness. However, the Kiwis misplaced to India right here every week in the past when Varun Chakaravarthy scythed via the line-up, and can now want their batters to discover a strategy to put strain on the Men in Blue’s spin quartet.
The finish of an enormous event usually invitations the ‘R’ phrase in the lexicon with respect to senior professionals. Australia’s Steve Smith referred to as it quits from ODIs after the semifinal loss on Tuesday. There has been some chatter about whether or not Rohit may grasp up his ODI boots after Sunday, contemplating he shall be almost 40 when the 2027 World Cup comes.
If that have been to be the case, guiding India to a second-straight white-ball ICC title after the T20 World Cup final yr might be the right farewell for one of many biggest ODI gamers of this technology.
Published – March 08, 2025 07:00 pm IST
