India and New Zealand will square off in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on March 9.
India are on an unbeaten streak in the eight-team tournament so far. After beating Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand in the group-stage, the Men in Blue outplayed Australia in the semi-final to make their third successive appearance in the Champions Trophy final.
On the other hand, the Kiwis were dominant in all the games they played in Pakistan and gave India a tough fight in the Group A match last Sunday (March 2).
Ahead of the tournament final, former cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri tipped India as favourites to lift the coveted trophy while also admitting that New Zealand have it in them to get the better of Rohit Sharma’s team.
“If there’s one team that can beat India, it’s New Zealand," Shastri was quoted as saying in The ICC Review.
“So India start as favourites but only just," he said referring to the final, which will be a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy final, where the Black Caps emerged victorious by four wickets in Nairobi.
Shastri is not wrong in his assessment as New Zealand have prevailed over India in the ICC knockouts in the past, having won three out of four games played between them over the years.
The former India head coach backed three all-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Glenn Phillips – to win the Player of the Match award in the summit clash.
“Player of the Match, I would go for an all-rounder. I’ll say Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja from India. From New Zealand, I think that Glenn Phillips has something up. He might just show flashes of brilliance in the field. He might come and smash a cameo of 40, 50 and probably surprise you by taking a wicket or two," he said.
Shastri also expects Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra to play pivotal roles on Sunday if their teams were to clinch the title.
“Now (on) current form, Kohli. When these guys get hot and you let them get their first 10 runs, then they’re trouble. Whether it’s Williamson, whether it’s Kohli," Shastri said.
“So from New Zealand, I would say Williamson. To an extent, Rachin Ravindra, he is a fabulous young player. But these guys when they smell the coffee and you let them, in a final, get to that 10-15, then they’re doubly dangerous."
(With inputs from Agencies)