India won the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday after chasing a manageable 252-run total against New Zealand. Captain Sharma scored 76, while Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul helped India finish after losing five wickets. The Kiwi bowlers’ star was Michael Bracewell, who scored 28 runs in 10 overs with 2 wickets.
India, who declined to play in Pakistan, has won all four of their matches in the UAE, including a 44-run group-stage win over the Black Caps last weekend, even though both teams had already reached the semi-finals. India are favorites to win a record third Champions Trophy, but Rohit Sharma’s team faces a powerful New Zealand team in the first major white-ball final in 25 years.
The Men in Blue are close to capturing back-to-back ICC trophies after last year’s T20 World Cup, but the tough Kiwis have always been a challenge.
New Zealand leads India 10-6 in all ICC competitions and 3-1 in knockout matches. The ICC announced today that Black Caps pace spearhead Matt Henry will miss the final due to injury.
India refused to tour hosts Pakistan and played all their matches in Dubai. The pitches in both countries differ greatly. While Dubai stadium decks were slow and turning, Pakistan tracks produced large totals.
India will not take anything for granted against New Zealand, who upset them by four wickets in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy final despite their perfect performances in Dubai.
Right-hand and left-hand wrist-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav have bamboozled opponents, while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have locked down hitters with accuracy and monotony.
Best batters
The best batters against slow bowlers in New Zealand, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra, will try to beat them. India, who want to beat Australia in the Champions Trophy, may struggle against New Zealand’s spin quartet of captain Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Ravindra. It was won by Australia in 2006 and 2009.
New Zealand won a Test series against India 3-0 in their backyard, a first. India lost in Australia. Two series losses lost India a spot in the World Test Championship final. Chris Cairns’ well-timed century in Nairobi helped New Zealand beat India to win the Knock Out championship, their sole limited-overs ICC championship, nearly 25 years ago.
The 2021 World Test Championship final win over India in Southampton gave the Black Caps another. India were defeated by New Zealand in a two-day rain-affected 2019 Cricket World Cup semifinal in Manchester.
