The highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand is set to take place on March 9 in Dubai, with fans eagerly awaiting a high-stakes battle. India, having displayed dominance throughout the tournament, will enter the contest as favorites, but New Zealand’s reputation as a strong ICC tournament side makes them a formidable opponent. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch, which offers a balance between bat and ball, is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Dinesh Karthik names two key New Zealand stars India must watch out for in the final
Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has identified Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner as the two biggest threats to India’s chances in the final. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik emphasized that neutralizing Williamson’s calm and composed presence at the crease will be crucial, as the former Kiwi captain has been the backbone of New Zealand’s batting lineup.
“I feel Kane Williamson again because he’s someone who can bat through the middle nicely,” Karthik stated, acknowledging the veteran batter’s ability to anchor the innings under pressure.
Karthik also highlighted Santner’s impact as a wily spinner, especially on the spin-friendly Dubai surface. The left-arm spinner has already picked up seven wickets in the tournament and will be a major challenge for India’s batting lineup.
“Santner is a big issue because he doesn’t give away anything. A very, very wily customer, knows what to do correctly. He’ll bowl one outside, one this way, one that way. Painful. And also a good leader and he’s got some good people to rely on, like Kane Williamson and Tom Latham,” Karthik added.
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A cracking finale on the cards?
With India aiming to reclaim the Champions Trophy title and New Zealand looking to secure their first, the final promises to be an intense battle between two top-class teams. While India’s star-studded lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Varun Chakravarthy, will look to assert dominance, the tactical brilliance of Williamson and Santner could pose serious challenges.
As cricket fans count down to Sunday’s epic showdown in Dubai, all eyes will be on how India tackles these key threats to script their path to victory. Will India’s firepower prevail, or will New Zealand once again rise to the occasion in an ICC final? The answer awaits in Dubai.
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