March 7, 2025: Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against India, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead highlighted the challenge of facing India's talented wrist-spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy. With the final scheduled for March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium, Stead acknowledged the difficulties of playing under the lights, especially against a bowler like Chakaravarthy, who has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament.
India and New Zealand are set to clash in a much-anticipated final. India enters the match undefeated, while New Zealand has displayed solid performances with both bat and ball under the leadership of Mitchell Santner. This final is poised to be a thrilling sequel to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, where New Zealand emerged victorious, and will also offer India a chance for revenge after losing to the Blackcaps in the 2019 ICC World Cup semifinal and 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
One of the key challenges for New Zealand will be facing Chakaravarthy, who has been a standout performer for India. In a previous match, he bowled a devastating spell, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/42) that destroyed New Zealand’s chase of 250 runs. His performance dismantled the middle order, claiming crucial wickets, including that of Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner. New Zealand, which was in a strong position at 151/3, eventually collapsed to 205 all out, and Chakaravarthy was instrumental in that turn of events.
Stead spoke to the media about the challenges his team would face against Chakaravarthy: "Varun Chakaravarthy is a big threat in the game. He is a very good bowler. We will have a look at the pitch conditions and how they could affect the game. We certainly expect him to play after getting a fifer. We will be putting our thinking caps around how we will nullify him and score runs against him. When you have such a wrist spinner bowling, it is easier to read the cues in daylight, but it becomes more challenging under lights."
Despite the challenge posed by Chakaravarthy, Stead remained confident about New Zealand’s spin options. "We have four spinners as well and think we are pretty balanced. But there is always a challenge (against Indian spin). They are all very good spinners in their own right, and for us, it’s about being clear on our plans and adjusting to match-ups as the game progresses. Indian spinners could also have an off day, and if that happens, it could work in our favor."
India’s spin attack is formidable, with Chakaravarthy leading the way as the competition's top wicket-taker among spinners, having claimed seven wickets at an average of 13.00. Other spinners like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja have also contributed with key wickets. New Zealand, however, isn’t short of spin options either, with Santner, Bracewell, and the all-rounders Phillips and Rachin Ravindra capable of providing support to the team’s primary spinners.
Stead and his team will need to stay sharp and adaptable, ensuring that they are prepared for the spinning challenge that India’s bowlers will present in the final. The clash promises to be a battle of strategies between two of the best teams in the world.
Last Updated on March 7, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
