New Zealand coach Gary Stead has expressed confidence that his team will be better prepared to tackle India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the highly anticipated Champions Trophy final on Sunday, March 9. Chakravarthy took the BlackCaps by surprise in their Group A clash on May 2, picking up five wickets on his Champions Trophy debut and playing a pivotal role in India’s victory. His remarkable spell of 5 for 52 saw him rip through New Zealand’s batting lineup, removing key players like Will Young, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner. India successfully defended a total of 249 in Dubai, and Chakravarthy’s bowling was instrumental in restricting the Kiwis.
With the final set to be played at the same venue, New Zealand is looking to learn from their previous experience and be better prepared to counter the slow, gripping conditions that favor spinners. Acknowledging the threat that Chakravarthy poses, Stead stated that his team is focused on formulating a solid game plan to tackle the Indian spinner.
"We certainly expect him to play after getting 5 for 42 against us in the last game. He is a class bowler and showed his skills against us last time, and he's a big threat in the game," Stead said in a press conference in Dubai on Friday.
"So we'll be putting our thinking caps on around how we nullify that and how we can still score runs against him," he added, hinting at potential tactical adjustments New Zealand could make to counter Chakravarthy’s variations.
Chakravarthy’s impact on the tournament has been significant, considering he did not feature in India’s first two group-stage matches. He was brought into the XI against New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah, and he immediately made his presence felt. The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner was a late addition to India’s Champions Trophy squad but has quickly justified his selection with match-winning performances.
His influence extended beyond the group stage, as he played another crucial role in India’s semi-final clash against Australia. Chakravarthy dismissed the dangerous Travis Head and ended with figures of 2 for 49, helping India secure their place in the final. His ability to outfox batters with his variations and accuracy has made him an X-factor in India’s bowling attack, and New Zealand is aware that neutralizing him will be key to their chances of lifting the trophy.
Meanwhile, Stead also addressed concerns regarding the tournament schedule, which has seen India play all of their matches in Dubai while New Zealand had to adapt to different venues. However, he dismissed any notion of an unfair advantage, maintaining that the final would be decided purely on performance.
"The decision around that (the schedule) is out of our hands, so it's not something we worry about too much. India have got to play all their games here in Dubai, but we have had a game here, and we'll learn very quickly from that experience," Stead remarked.
He further emphasized the importance of the final as a high-stakes, one-off game, where past performances and conditions take a backseat.
"So when you come to this stage of the tournament—I mean, we've had eight teams at the start, and we're down to two now—it’s always exciting to be in this situation. From our perspective, it just comes down to a one-off game now, and if we're good enough to beat India on Sunday, then I will be happy," Stead added.
India and New Zealand last met in a Champions Trophy final 25 years ago, in the 2000 Knockout Trophy final in Nairobi, where the Kiwis, led by Stephen Fleming, secured a historic victory with Chris Cairns scoring a match-winning century. Since then, India and New Zealand have built a fierce rivalry in ICC tournaments, with New Zealand often proving to be India’s kryptonite in crucial knockout games. However, India will take confidence from their dominant form throughout the tournament, including their victory over New Zealand in the group stage.
This time, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India will be determined to turn the tables and claim their first Champions Trophy title since 2013. With key players like Virat Kohli, who recently became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, and young sensation Shubman Gill in top form, India boasts a strong batting lineup. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and of course, Varun Chakravarthy, provides them with a well-rounded squad capable of thriving in Dubai’s conditions.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the grand finale, all eyes will be on how New Zealand plans to counter Chakravarthy’s mystery spin and whether India can maintain their dominant run to lift yet another ICC trophy. The final promises to be an enthralling contest between two high-quality teams, with history, pride, and silverware on the line.
