Dubai, March 1 – Riding high on two consecutive wins, a confident India will look to fine-tune their batting against spin bowling and test their bench strength when they face New Zealand in their final group match of the Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India Eyes Spin Mastery Ahead of Crucial Semifinals
India, already assured of a semifinal spot, will aim to secure the top position in Group A by defeating the Kiwis. However, topping the group offers limited advantage, as their next opponent in the knockout stage will either be Australia or South Africa—both teams boasting robust spin attacks.Despite victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan, India's star-studded batting lineup hasn't appeared entirely comfortable against spin bowling. The Indian batters adopted a cautious strategy, playing out spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain from Bangladesh, and Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, without significant aggression.
Kiwi Spinners Pose Toughest Challenge Yet
New Zealand’s spin duo, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, are expected to provide India with their sternest test yet. Both bowlers are in excellent form, and the tired, spin-friendly surface at Dubai could further amplify their threat.India's top batters—including Virat Kohli, fresh from his morale-lifting century against Pakistan, in-form opener Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer—will have their skills tested against 20 overs of challenging spin bowling from Santner, Bracewell, and part-timer Glenn Phillips.
Bracewell has been particularly economical, giving away just 3.2 runs per over across two matches. Meanwhile, India will recall their struggles against Santner and Phillips from a recent home Test series, where they suffered a 3-0 whitewash.
Spinners Shaping Outcomes in Dubai
The dominance of spinners has become a noticeable feature of the Dubai matches, validating India’s decision to include five spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Washington Sundar—in their Champions Trophy squad.Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep have efficiently controlled opponents, restricting the run-flow during crucial middle-over phases. Against Pakistan, Indian spinners remarkably stifled Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, who couldn’t manage a boundary for nine consecutive overs.
However, New Zealand presents a tougher challenge, with accomplished spin-playing batters such as Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Will Young, and Rachin Ravindra ready to counterattack.
Opportunities for India's Fringe Players
With a semifinal spot guaranteed, India might rotate their squad. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who briefly left the field against Pakistan due to discomfort, may be rested, paving the way for Rishabh Pant’s first appearance in this tournament.Similarly, Mohammad Shami, who showed signs of calf trouble in the previous match, could be rested as a precautionary measure. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh might replace him, while Varun Chakravarthy, back from injury, could step in for Kuldeep Yadav.
Teams (From):
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.
Match Timing: Sunday, 2:30 PM IST
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