India banks on spin prowess as they face a strong New Zealand side in the high-stakes title clash
Bengaluru, March 9 – As India gears up for the much-anticipated Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, former wicketkeeper-batter Syed Kirmani believes that mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will be India’s trump card in the decisive encounter.
With a sold-out stadium and an electric atmosphere expected, India will draw confidence from their 44-run victory over the Kiwis in the group stage, where Chakravarthy dismantled New Zealand’s batting order with a stunning 5/42 spell.
“We have four spinners in the team, and one mystery bowler in the form of Varun Chakravarthy. He is in great form and will be a big threat to the New Zealanders. New Zealand is a very competent side,” Kirmani told ANI.
Spin Dominance on a Tricky Dubai Pitch
The Dubai surface has not produced high-scoring matches, and while some expect another low-scoring affair, Kirmani believes that a 300-plus total will be key to victory.
“Batting first, they’ve got to score more than 300-plus if India has to win the finals, right? Otherwise, if New Zealand bats first, it all depends on how much they score, but 300-plus should be the target on both sides,” he added.
India’s four-pronged spin attack proved highly effective in the group stage, and Chakravarthy’s disguised variations will once again be crucial in unsettling the Kiwi batting lineup.
Champions Trophy Final: Squads
India Squad:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand Squad:
Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy.
As India and New Zealand get ready for a battle of skill and strategy, all eyes will be on Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin—a potential game-changer in India’s quest for the Champions Trophy title.
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