India’s endless batting power and spin and win quartet on conditions suited to their type of cricket brings them the crown of glory as Champions of 2025 eight team multi tournament in Dubai.
The sea of blue spectators at the Dubai International Stadium and the pitch that aided a four man spin attack were early indications that India was on home soil to that of a neutral venue.
New Zealand had the disadvantage of playing on different surfaces in the champions trophy, showing their talent in Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, and Dubai.
India had the luxury of a home base in Dubai, not having the extra pressure of travelling and competing on different surfaces.
The injury to strike bowler Matt Henry, the leading wicket of the tournament, caused a huge dent in the Kiwis bowling lineup, and that was evident.
It’s time to dig deep into Dubai, International Stadium.
Mitchell Santner, the Kiwi skipper winning the coin toss, opted to bat first.
New Zealand had a good power play upfront, just losing only Will Young as the Black caps with the aid of Rachin Ravindra made 69 for 1 wicket, in the first power play overs
The stangle hold was introduced by Rohit Sharma as he cleverly introduced his 4 man spin quartet the best in the world, which any team in an Indian favoured pitch would struggle period.
Darryl Mitchell scored the slowest 50 for New Zealand in 11 years to hold the Kiwi batting together after Kane Williamson 11 , Rachin Ravindra, 37 , Tom Latham 16 with Will Young 15, all back in the hutch with the Black caps score on 108 for 4 wickets in 23.2 overs.
Glenn Philips is the best fielder in the world. He opened his shoulders made 34, with Darryl Mitchell 63, to bring sanity to New Zealand in their struggle against Indian Spin.
It’s Michael Bracewell and his grit of taking the Indian bowling that helped New Zealand to a par score of 251 for 7 wickets in their alloted 50 overs.
Bracewell 53 in 40 balls helped New Zealand to stich 79 runs in the death overs, which is a true Kiwi grit.
Jadeja 1 for 30 , Chakravarthi 2 for 48 , Kuldeep 2 for 40, and Axer Patel wicketless for 29 runs in 8 overs exhibits the Indian strangle hold in which Black Caps had to cope with 38 overs of deadly Spin.
Indian seamer Mohammad Shami went for 78 runs and had nothing to show in the wickets column. This proves the spin friendly conditions that favoured India in this game.
252 as a target against India based on their never-ending batting line up is no easy task for New Zealand to defend, especially minus their strike bowler and their limited spin cordon, only blessed with Mitch Santner to their aid.
Santner is a world-class bowler , but at the back of his head, as I predicted earlier, was damage control than scalps.
Rohit Sharma, as I stated in my match, preview saved his best for the last and won him the man of the match award for his 76 runs . The 103 run Partnership he stiched with Shubman Gill also put favourites India on the road to wearing the Iconic White Jacket.
Nails were chewed by the Indian supporters as New Zealand dismissed Shubman Gill for 31 , Rohit Sharma for 76 , Virat Kholi for a golden duck , however the never ending batting prowess of Sheyes Ayer 48 , Axer Patel 29 and the unbeaten 34 by K.L. Rahul, the model of consistency, saw India home in the 49th over and take home the silver wear.
Michael Bracewell 2 for 28 , Santner 2 for 46 , Rachin 1 for 47, and Jammison 1 for 24 did their best to drag Indian victory wait till the 49th over.
Glenn Philips was excellent with his ground fielding and catching, New Zealand inner circle fielding is far beyond compare. Cut above the rest in the world. Great sportsman, who plays the game to the true spirit of cricket , great ambassadors who compete on any given surface.
