India vs New Zealand: 5 players to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy final

India's unbeaten run at the ICC Champions Trophy positions the Men in Blue as the dominant victors. However, their final charge toward the title faces an equally formidable New Zealand side vying for the win. While India convincingly defeated New Zealand in the group stage, the Kiwis arrive in the final with a threatening lineup. Moreover, the Kiwis have already played a fixture in Dubai, so India's acclimatization to the venue would not be as big a challenge for New Zealand as the fraternity projects right now. Additionally, New Zealand's record in ICC tournament finals against the Men in Blue stands at odds with India, who lost both ICC titles when they faced the White Ferns in the summit clash.

India vs New Zealand: Players to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy final

India has many aspects working in their favor as they gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Virat Kohli, proven as the team's foremost match-winner over the years, is back in form, leading run chases with his gritty knocks, as witnessed in the India vs. Australia semi-final. Moreover, the middle order also looks solid, with Shreyas Iyer showing impressive consistency and Axar Patel adapting seamlessly to his promoted spot in the batting order. New Zealand, meanwhile, looks equally in-form, as Rachin Ravindra continues his envious form in yet another ICC ODI tournament. The battle is set to be an enthralling one, with no way to aptly predict the better team between the two at the moment.

Virat Kohli

A significant portion of India's hopes of winning the ICC Champions Trophy final arguably rests on the shoulders of Virat Kohli. Dismissing any concerns about his form, Kohli announced his comeback with a century in the India vs. Pakistan game. The top-order batter has since managed to score match-defining runs in the tournament. The 265-run chase against Australia in the semi-final, which appeared insurmountable after the early departures of openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, saw Kohli take control.

A gritty 84-run knock, as good as another century, paved the way for the Men in Blue to enter the final. Moreover, the batter handled Australian spinners like Adam Zampa and Cooper Connolly seamlessly, an uplifting sight after his recent struggles against spin. Once Kohli sets his sights, it becomes difficult for the opposition to frazzle him.

Varun Chakravarthy

India seems to have struck gold with the late call-up of Varun Chakravarthy to their Champions Trophy squad. The spinner has carried his revamped form to Dubai and stunned New Zealand with a fifer in his maiden Champions Trophy game. While Matt Henry rattled the Indian batting lineup with a five-wicket haul, restricting them to just 249, Chakravarthy's spell ensured India remained unbeaten in the group stage. Now, as India vs. New Zealand has been reshaped for the final, the New Zealand head coach has referred to the mystery spinner as the biggest threat to his team on Sunday.

Shreyas Iyer

If the consistency in Iyer's form is not an indication enough, the middle-order batter's penchant for scoring against New Zealand should worry the Kiwis. Iyer smashed a century in the India vs. New Zealand semi-final at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Moreover, in the face of Henry's unrestrained attack in the Champions Trophy group-stage match, it was Iyer’s crucial 79-run knock that propelled India’s score to a fighting total. Additionally, with the Indian openers looking a bit shaky in their stand, much rests on Shreyas Iyer to share the load with Virat Kohli and fortify India's batting attack for the final against New Zealand.

Rachin Ravindra

It would be a crime not to mention Rachin Ravindra in this list, given the form the young batter is currently showcasing in the ICC tournament. A late entry into the Playing XI, forced by the head injury he sustained in the Pakistan ODI tri-series, did not stop him from entering the league of the highest run-scorers in the Champions Trophy. Lying just behind Ben Duckett by a margin of a single run, Rachin Ravindra is leading the race to win the Golden Bat at the ICC Champions Trophy.

With two centuries in three matches so far, India will hope to dismiss Ravindra early in the game. However, the true test for Rachin will be to face India’s spin-heavy attack in Dubai. In the group-stage encounter against India, Ravindra struggled and managed just six runs before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya. The final will be a crucial test of his ability to counter India’s spinners and make an impact on the grand stage.

Mitchell Santner

A major concern for India in the final could be Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s left-arm spinner. The Kiwi skipper has played a pivotal role in his team’s strategy, particularly in Dubai, where spin-friendly conditions have favored bowlers like him. Ambati Rayudu highlighted Santner’s impact in the semi-final against South Africa, where his spell of 3 for 43 disrupted the Proteas’ chase during the middle overs.

Although Santner’s tally of seven wickets in four matches may not appear overly intimidating, his economy rate of 4.85 runs per over reflects the kind of control that has made Indian spinners so effective. His role becomes even more significant if Matt Henry, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, fails to recover in time from his shoulder injury for the final.