Mitchell Santner acknowledges India’s familiarity with Dubai conditions but remains confident in New Zealand’s adaptability.
March 7, 2025: “India Knows the Surface”: Santner Acknowledges ‘Dubai Advantage’ Ahead of Champions Trophy Final
New Zealand captain confident of adapting to conditions despite India’s familiarity with Dubai pitches.
Dubai: As New Zealand gears up to face India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9, captain Mitchell Santner has addressed the ongoing debate over India’s ‘Dubai advantage’.
With all of India’s matches played in Dubai, questions have been raised about their familiarity with the pitch compared to teams like New Zealand, who have traveled extensively between Pakistan and the UAE throughout the tournament.
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Despite acknowledging India’s home-like conditions, Santner expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt and put up a strong fight in the final.
“They Know the Surface, But We’re Ready to Scrap”
Speaking to reporters upon arriving in Dubai on Thursday evening, Santner admitted that India’s experience with the surface could influence the game.
“They’ve played all their games here in Dubai and know the surface. Obviously, the surface will dictate a little bit of how we want to operate. It might be a little bit slower than what we got in Lahore. It might be more of a scrap, but we’re down to scrap,” Santner stated.
New Zealand previously faced India in the group stage, suffering a 44-run defeat in a match that had no impact on knockout qualification. However, Santner believes that experience will now work in their favor.
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“We’ve come against a good side. I think we’ll be better for the run we had the other day against them. We’ve had a bit of a roll on. Hopefully, it continues,” he added.
New Zealand’s Grueling Travel Schedule
Unlike India, which has played all its matches in one location, New Zealand has been on the move constantly, playing matches in Pakistan and Dubai in quick succession.
However, Santner played down concerns about fatigue, stating that the squad is mentally and physically prepared for the high-stakes final.
“It’s just the general feel of this tournament, moving around a lot. It’s all part of the challenge. I think we’ve been to every place here, in Pakistan and Dubai. The guys understand it’s part of the game these days. As long as you’re ready to go for the game, it’s fine,” he said.
The Road to the Final
Both teams head into the final in top form:
- India defeated Australia by four wickets in the semi-final.
- New Zealand put in a dominant performance to eliminate South Africa and book their spot in the title clash.
With India looking to capitalize on their familiarity with Dubai’s conditions and New Zealand determined to overcome the challenge, cricket fans can expect a thrilling Champions Trophy final showdown.
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