India vs New Zealand: Opening partnership a concern for Team India ahead of the final?

Four victories in as many matches paint a dominating picture of Team India at the ICC Champions Trophy. The commanding wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan ensured that the Men in Blue qualified for the semi-finals. Moreover, victory over New Zealand announced India's ability to challenge an equal opponent and derail them when the moment arrived, as witnessed in the India vs Australia semi-final. The unbeaten run covers the shortcomings of the team that has appeared mostly flawless so far. However, a single element can conspire against the team when it comes to the ultimate victory. Team India scripted an unbeaten run at the 2023 ODI World Cup straight up to the final, where they lost against the Kangaroos. Currently, New Zealand sits as a hurdle between the Men in Blue and the Champions Trophy. India, meanwhile, needs to take note of the aspects they can improve as they fortify their defense against the Kiwis.

Sunil Gavaskar highlights a concern in Team India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has highlighted a concern within India's batting department as the team gears up for the summit clash at the ICC Champions Trophy. India's opening partners, skipper Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Shubman Gill, have not provided the kind of stability that the team would have fancied at the top. Shubman Gill emerged as the brightest prospect ahead of the Champions Trophy with a consistent onslaught in the India vs England series, which included a century. Rohit Sharma also scripted a comeback with a scintillating century in Cuttack during the second India vs England ODI. However, together, their form has not translated into a mighty opening attack for India at the marquee event.

In the four matches that India has played in Dubai, the opening stand between Gill and Rohit matched the 50-run mark only once. In the opening game, the India vs Bangladesh fixture, Gill and Rohit put up a 69-run partnership before Rohit departed at 41, and Gill went on to score another century. Barring the opening fixture, stability has been absent from the top of India's order. The captain has not hit any fifty, with the 41 against Bangladesh being his highest score at the Champions Trophy so far. Gill started with a century, but his top-notch form didn't replicate in the fixture against New Zealand and the India vs Australia semi-final, where he departed at just 9.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, along with Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel in the middle, has been carrying the heavy load for the batting order. Kohli's century headlined the six-wicket victory against Pakistan, while the 69-run knock by Shreyas Iyer pushed India's total toward a fighting score of 249 against New Zealand. The semi-final victory against Australia was also led by the gritty 84-run knock by Virat Kohli and the closing fireworks by Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. Thus, the opening partnership is a puddle that can threaten India's standing against New Zealand.

“They haven't (played to their maximum potential) because when you look at the openers, they haven't really given the Indian team the kind of start that they had hoped for. That has not happened. So, clearly, I think there's a shortcoming over there,” Sunil Gavaskar highlighted ahead of the India vs New Zealand final.

New Zealand comes with a threatening arsenal of in-form batters and formidable bowlers. While Matt Henry is doubtful to play the final, skipper Mitchell Santner, with his spin, can rattle the lineup. Moreover, with Rachin Ravindra breathing fire at the top, India's opening stand should be equally firing, if not more, if the Men in Blue are vying for their chances of a win against the Kiwis.