New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner conceded that the familiarity of the Indians with conditions provides them an advantage in Champions Trophy 2025 final and it is going to be an uphill task for the Kiwis. But Mitchell Santner was optimistic that his team was capable of acclimatization and performing in the big day.
New Zealand, with their sights on their first ICC ODI trophy since the 2000 Knockout Trophy triumph, will lock horns with India in a make-or-break battle on Sunday. Santner thinks that having played India already during the group stages at the Dubai International Stadium will be an advantage for them. Interestingly, the final will be played on the same surface India used to beat Pakistan in their group-stage game.
The Indian Cricket team is on the cusp of history as they’re just one step away from becoming the most successful team in the ICC Champions Trophy by winning three titles. Standing in the way of India’s another ICC triumph are their fiercest rivals, New Zealand. India captain Rohit Sharma has already etched his name in the record books by becoming the first skipper to lead his team into the finals of all four ICC events and a win against the Kiwis will make him the second most successful captain of his country in the limited-overs format.
However, in order to do that, he will have to outsmart his adversary, Mitchell Santner, who is coming into the summit clash on the back of a match-winning spell in the semi-final against South Africa. The New Zealand captain is no stranger to India, who’s scripted numerous downfalls for the Men in Blue on several occasions in the past few years. While Santner’s overall numbers against India don’t look too threatening, the southpaw has been the wrecker-in-chief for them on the biggest of stages in the recent past.
Mitchell Santner :- India’s chief destroyer
The Hamilton-born cricketer Mitchell Santner started his love-affair against the Asian giants from the first match itself as his sensational spell of 4/11 (4 overs) in the T20 World Cup 2016, handed a shocking 47-run defeat to the hosts India in their opening encounter.
Five years later, Mitchell Santner bowled another miserly spell of 0/15 (4 overs) in the next edition of the T20 World Cup in 2021, which played a key role in handing India an early exit from the tournament. During the all-important semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2019, Santner once again kept the Indian batters at bay in the middle overs, registering figures of 2/34 in ten overs and helped his team progress to the final.
Recently, he registered his best ever performance in Test cricket (13/157) in October 2024 to hand India their first series defeat on home soil since 2012. Santner knows how to get under the skin of Indian batters and has a great chance to be the thorn in their flesh in the upcoming encounter once again.
The left-arm spinner averages 61.20 in ODI cricket against the Men in Blue, however, his economy rate of 4.75 makes him a tricky customer to score against. In the semi-final against South Africa, Mitchell Santner came into the attack in the 16th over and stopped the scoring rate, choking the Proteas batting. He got rid of both set batters, Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen in a space of four overs to derail South Africa’s chase.
Hence, India will have a herculean task to counter Mitchell Santner’s threat in the all-important final. His tight lengths, coupled with the acrobatic fielding of the Kiwi players, is the perfect recipe for disaster for India. While Indian batters were able to take advantage of the fielding lapses of Pakistan and Bangladesh, they will be given no respite by New Zealand’s fielding unit.
NZ skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged India’s understanding of conditions for the Champions Trophy final but is confident in his team’s adaptability. The Kiwis aim for their first ICC ODI title since 2000.
Mitchell Santner opens up On ‘Challenge’ In CT 2025 Final
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said India’s understanding of the conditions has made the Champions Trophy final a ‘challenging’ assignment, but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt. The Kiwis are eyeing their first ICC ODI title on Sunday, following their victory in the 2000 Knockouts Trophy, where they defeated India in the final in Kenya.
“We know India are going to be a challenge. They’ve been playing some very good cricket. They understand these conditions pretty well,” said Mitchell Santner in the pre-match press meet here on Saturday.
Mitchell Santner hoped the experience of playing against India a few days back here in a league match will stand his side in good stead.
“I think, obviously, having the run against India a few days ago will definitely help us out, understanding the conditions a little bit better.
“But it is a knockout game. And I guess whoever turns up on the day could take home the trophy,” he added.
The final is expected to be played on the same surface as the one that was used in India’s group match against Pakistan.
Mitchell Santner said the team will have to be ready to adapt irrespective of the nature of the pitch.
“We came up against a good side and on a spinning wicket, especially in the second inning (of the last match). We know India are probably going to go in with the same team.
“But we know it might be a different surface. So, I think we have to be ready and be adaptable for what’s coming,” he said.
In that context, Mitchell Santner hoped that the New Zealand batters will face mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took five wickets in the previous match, better in this match.
“I think guys will be better for the run against Varun. He’s obviously a world-class bowler, we’ve seen it here and obviously in the IPL and that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him. I think they’ll learn from the other day.”
Mitchell Santner said the team has viewed the videos of Chakravarthy’s bowling a bit more coming into the final.
“If the pitch plays a similar way, it’s going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners. We have looked at a little bit more footage.
“I think we obviously know what his threats are now. That 115K arm ball, that got me (in the last match) and that was a bit of a threat, but yeah, we know he’s going to be a challenge,” he added.
Premier New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has been nursing a shoulder niggle, and Mitchell Santner said a final call on his availability for the final will be taken later.
“So we’ll be going across the road and training after this. And Matt’s going to have a bowl just to see how he is. Yeah and then I guess we’ll make a call after that,” he said.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner conceded that the familiarity of the Indians with conditions provides them an advantage in Champions Trophy 2025 final and it is going to be an uphill task for the Kiwis. But he was optimistic that his team was capable of acclimatization and performing in the big day.
The odds are already stacked up with the Kiwis, who’ve beaten India in both the ICC finals contested between the two sides so far, namely the Champions Trophy final in 2000 and the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2021.
Moreover, the Blackcaps also hold an edge over India in the history of ICC events, having beaten them ten times out of the 16 matches played between the two teams. Hence, India will be up against history as they take the field on Sunday with an aim to win the tournament and be called the most dominating white-ball team of the current era.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue have shown time and again that they’re never overawed by the occasion, showing no qualms on the big stage. The final presents a golden opportunity for both Rohit and Santner to lead their team to glory. It remains to be seen who will win the battle between the two captains and stake claim of the coveted trophy.