March 8, 2025: As India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, former cricketer Deep Dasgupta shared his insights on the pitch conditions and what impact they might have on the game. Dasgupta believes that the pitch will remain consistent with what has been observed over the last few weeks, and there will be little variation in the surface. He also highlighted that New Zealand, having played on this pitch before, is familiar with the conditions.
"The pitch is the same as we have seen in the last 2-3 weeks. There won't be much difference. New Zealand has also played on this pitch. In a square, even if they play on pitch No. 3 or 4, it is still the same square. It's not like India, where the soil in different squares varies," Dasgupta said.
Dasgupta noted that spinners could play a key role, depending on how dry the pitch becomes, but emphasized that the game's outcome will depend on a variety of factors, including the dryness of the surface. "Spinners will obviously play a role. It will be a good game. We will have to see how dry the pitch is or how dry it is not," he explained.
When asked about India's batting line-up, Dasgupta expressed his hope that skipper Rohit Sharma, despite not being at his best recently, would deliver a big knock in the final. "Rohit is known for double hundreds. His playing nature has changed, and so has the team's approach. We definitely hope that instead of scores of 30-40, he will get 130 or 140, but the way he is playing, it is important for him to continue in that manner," Dasgupta said.
Dasgupta also lauded Mohammed Shami’s exceptional form, with the veteran pacer having been a standout performer for India in the tournament. "What about Shami? I mean, listen--just look at the record. Nobody has a better record than him in ODIs. So, leave him as he is. He is very good," Dasgupta added.
Highlighting India's balanced squad, Dasgupta pointed out that the team has performed well throughout the tournament. He noted that New Zealand is a tough and disciplined side but still backed India to come out on top. "India can't be more balanced than this. The way everyone is playing, they are looking extremely strong, but New Zealand is a tough side. They always come prepared, and their players are disciplined and capable of executing their plans. It will be a close contest, but I still keep India ahead," he said.
Dasgupta also underlined the significance of the final against New Zealand, considering their previous encounters in Dubai and their familiarity with the Indian squad. "The biggest game will be against New Zealand--there's no doubt about that. They have played against India, they have played in Dubai, and they have faced this Indian team before. So, it will be a close encounter," he added.
Despite the challenges, Dasgupta is confident that India will emerge victorious, saying, "Obviously India will win." With India undefeated in the tournament and New Zealand showing strong form under Mitchell Santner’s leadership, the final promises to be an exciting clash, echoing the dramatic history of the 2000 Champions Trophy final, which New Zealand won.
Last Updated on March 8, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
