Sanjay Manjrekar on why Kiwis would be tough opponents for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the Men in Blue will have the edge over New Zealand heading into the 2025 Champions Trophy final.
With India and New Zealand having met twice in the ICC tournaments finals with both occasions seeing New Zealand winning the title in the past, the Mitchell Santner led New Zealand side will be eying their third win in an ICC tournament final over India in the Champions Trophy final at Dubai on Sunday. New Zealand won the 2000 Champions Trophy apart from winning the ICC Test Championship in 2021 to keep their record to two wins in two ICC finals.
New Zealand have reached the semi-final or finals in the last three ODI World Cups with final appearances in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup and a semi-final appearance in the 2023 World Cup.
In recent years, both New Zealand and India have won a match each in the knockout stages of ICC tournaments with New Zealand winning the 2019 World Cup semi-final and India winning the 2023 World Cup semi-final. While New Zealand suffered a 44-run loss against India in the group match earlier in the tournament, the Mitchell Santner led side scored a 50- run win over South Africa in the semi-finals to set up the summit clash against India
Result of the match when India and New Zealand clashed in the group stage of the 2025 Champions Trophy
New Zealand won the toss and invited India to bat in the group game in Dubai on March 2. The Men in Blue were held to 249-9 despite Shreyas Iyer’s 79 as pacer Matt Henry starred with 5-42. In the chase, the Kiwis were bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Williamson top-scored with 81 off 120, but no other batter reached 30 as Chakravarthy picked up five wickets and Kuldeep Yadav two.
Former Indian cricketer now commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his views on the same and has warned India regarding the toughness New Zealand could bring on the field vs India
Sanjay Manjrekar shares his views on why Kiwis would be tough opponents for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the Men in Blue will have the edge over New Zealand heading into the 2025 Champions Trophy final. Sanjay Manjrekar, however, added that the Kiwis would be much tougher opponents in the final than the group stage because they now have the knowledge of conditions in Dubai and also players to exploit the same.
India will take on New Zealand in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. When the two sides clashed in the group stage at the same venue, the Men in Blue got the better of the Black Caps by 44 runs, with leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy picking up 5-42.
During a discussion on ESPNCricinfo, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar opined that New Zealand are much better prepared to take on the Men in Blue in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Sanjay Manjrekar said:
“Yes [India has an advantage], but an improved New Zealand side. Kane Williamson is now coming into his own. I think they have found the template to win matches. They obviously have the spin advantage, which South Africa didn’t quite have and Australia didn’t quite have when they played in Dubai against India. New Zealand have that.”
Williamson and Rachin Ravindra struck hundreds in New Zealand’s 50-run triumph over South Africa in the second semifinal of the ICC event at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Sanjay Manjrekar believes that this is the biggest plus for the Kiwis ahead of the final against India. The 59-year-old commented:
“I think the biggest development from that last defeat is two guys getting hundreds in the match against South Africa. I think that’s the way they’ll go. People like Tom Latham, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson – they know how to get big scores against spinners.
“I think that might just be their focus in this game – put runs on the board if you’re batting first. And in a run chase, they’ll do it like how they do it in Test matches. It won’t be taking on the bowling. It will be a very sensible approach that they will have,” he concluded.
Rachin Ravindra is the second-leading run-getter in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with 226 runs in three innings at an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 103.67. He has two hundreds to his name in the tournament. Tom Latham has 191 runs in four innings and former skipper Williamson 189.
India will face New Zealand in the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the teams it could not be an easy ride for any of the team to have the hands on the coveted Trophy.