No Kohli, Iyer! Former RCB coach names a 33-year-old Indian player as a threat for New Zealand in Champions Trophy final
India are set to take on New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday, marking their second clash in the tournament. Rohit Sharma’s side had previously secured a 40-run victory over Mitchell Santner in the Group A encounter, finishing at the top of the table.
Interestingly, India haven’t won a single toss in the tournament, with Rohit losing 14 consecutive ODIs tosses. However, former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson believes this won’t play a major role in the final, as the absence of dew in Dubai reduces the toss’s impact.
“I honestly expected there to be more dew on the ground at this time of the year. Luckily, there hasn’t been much. As a result, the toss isn’t really going to play a big role, which I think is a positive thing,” Hesson shared with Cricbuzz.
“When you’re heading into a Champions Trophy final, the toss isn’t really a concern. And for Indian fans, especially given that Rohit Sharma has lost 14 tosses in a row, it’s definitely not something to lose sleep over.”
Former RCB coach Hesson also acknowledged India’s impressive form and highlighted the influence of spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. The Indian spinner made his tournament debut against New Zealand, delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul and earning the Player of the Match award.
He followed it up with another strong performance in the semi-final against Australia, finishing with figures of 2/49 in ten overs. Hesson suggested that Chakaravarthy’s presence alone could push New Zealand to rethink their tactics at the toss.
“From a tactical perspective, New Zealand would prefer to bat first at the toss. They would aim to replicate their semifinal strategy against South Africa. I believe this is especially important because of Varun Chakravarthy, as he’s a key player,” Hesson explained.
With this final, India will be eyeing their second consecutive ICC white-ball title, following their T20 World Cup triumph last year under Rohit’s leadership.
Leave a Reply