ICC Champions Trophy Final: Will India dominate or will New Zealand create a thrilling upset?

The much-awaited final of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. 

India and New Zealand will face off at 3:00 PM Bangladesh time, both teams eager to lift the coveted trophy.

As the two teams prepare for the big match, the atmosphere is filled with anticipation. India enters the final as the clear favorite, but the question remains: will they continue their dominance, or can New Zealand pull off a thrilling upset?

India is the team to beat, having had the advantage of training at the same venue and familiarizing themselves with the pitch conditions. 

Their spin department has been a major strength throughout the tournament, and they have maintained momentum, winning their last four matches to reach the final.

But New Zealand is no pushover. Despite India‍‍`s impressive form, the Black Caps are a resilient team that has often risen to the occasion when least expected. 

In fact, the two teams‍‍` last meeting in the group stage of this tournament ended in a dominant performance by India, with their spin attack proving to be the difference.

The two teams also share some history, with 25 years ago still fresh in the memories of many. 

Back in 2000, India and New Zealand met in the final of the ICC KnockOut World Cup (now the ICC Champions Trophy), where New Zealand defeated India by four wickets to take the title. 

However, India avenged that loss in the following editions of the tournament, winning in 2002 and again in 2013.

If India wins this final, they will make history by becoming the first team to win the ICC Champions Trophy three times. India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill expressed confidence in his team but acknowledged the pressure of a final.

“There is always pressure in big matches. Since it’s a big match, the team that can handle the pressure better, the team that can suppress the occasion and not think about the fact that it‍‍`s the final, will have a better chance of winning,” said Gill.

Gill also pointed out that the best teams, like West Indies and Australia, were known for their ability to perform under pressure in big matches. 

"They didn’t let the pressure of the occasion affect them, and they delivered their best performances in knockouts or finals."

Despite their favorable position, India is aware that finals are unpredictable. 

They are also reminded of past challenges, like when New Zealand defeated India in the 2019 World Cup semifinals and in the 2021 World Test Championship final. 

However, Gill remains hopeful that India can rise to the occasion.

New Zealand, led by captain Mitchell Santner, is focused on learning from their previous encounter with India in the group stage. 

Santner spoke about the challenges India posed, particularly their spinners, and emphasized the need for his team to adjust quickly to the conditions.

“That match (against India in the group stage) was challenging. India played very well. But we also did some things really well. We’ve learned a lot from that match. India will probably come with the same team, so I hope our players will do better this time,” Santner said.

Santner also highlighted the role of spinners in their approach, saying that New Zealand has the advantage of having multiple spinners in their squad who can offer different styles of bowling. 

"We’re probably playing with the most spinners in our team this time. Every bowler offers something different. I bowl in a different style than Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips also offer something unique."

One of the key factors in this final is the pitch, which has favored spin bowlers throughout the tournament. 

The same pitch where India defeated Pakistan on February 23 will host the final. 

India’s spin attack, led by Varun Chakravarti, was crucial in their victory over New Zealand in the group stage, where India fielded four spinners for the first time in the tournament.

India’s spin-heavy strategy worked wonders against New Zealand in the group match, with Chakravarti taking five wickets to dismantle the Kiwi batting. 

India is expected to field the same approach in the final, with four spinners once again in the lineup.

Santner acknowledged the threat India’s spin department poses but is optimistic that New Zealand has learned from their previous encounter. 

“Whatever the pitch is like, whatever the challenges are, we’ll have to adjust quickly,” he said.

Another concern for New Zealand is the injury of fast bowler Matt Henry, who has been instrumental in the tournament so far. 

Henry, who has taken the most wickets in the Champions Trophy with 10 wickets, including a crucial five-wicket haul against India in the group stage, suffered a shoulder injury during the semifinal. 

New Zealand is waiting until the last minute to decide whether he can play in the final.

For Mitchell Santner, this final represents a golden opportunity to lead New Zealand to their first ICC title since the 2000 Champions Trophy. 

New Zealand’s only major ICC title came in 2000, and Santner will be eager to break the nation’s long wait for another global trophy.

Meanwhile, India will also be hoping to end their 11-year ICC trophy drought in ODIs. With key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma facing uncertainty over their futures with the team, the pressure is on to deliver a win. 

This could be the last chance for these players to win another ICC trophy before the next ODI World Cup.

The stakes are high for both teams, and the battle for the ICC Champions Trophy promises to be an exciting one. 

Will India’s dominance continue, or can New Zealand spring a surprise? 

The final will undoubtedly be a thrilling contest, with the spin battle likely to be a key factor in determining the winner.