Kane Williamson special awaits in the Champions Trophy final?

The stage is set for a thrilling Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9. Both teams have been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, securing dominant victories in their semi-final encounters. This final promises to be a fierce contest, with both sides bringing their best cricket to the fore, and there is plenty of history between the two teams in ICC events to add further intrigue. While India triumphed over New Zealand in the group stage of the current Champions Trophy, the Black Caps have typically proven to be a tough opponent for India, especially in knockout scenarios.

Historically, India has struggled against New Zealand in ICC tournaments, particularly in crucial knockout matches. In fact, India has only managed to defeat the Kiwis once in an ICC knockout fixture, while they have suffered defeat on two occasions. This creates an intriguing dynamic heading into the final, as India will look to break their historical jinx against the Black Caps in ICC knockouts. On the other hand, New Zealand will be looking to continue their dominance in these crucial encounters and add another prestigious title to their already impressive record in ICC events. The final promises to be a highly competitive affair, with both teams eager to claim the Champions Trophy.

New Zealand's star batter Kane Williamson spoke ahead of the upcoming final against India, acknowledging the challenge posed by the Men in Blue. He praised India as an "outstanding team" and expressed confidence that his side would be ready for the tough contest. Williamson highlighted the quality and depth of the Indian squad, recognizing their strengths across all departments. However, the Kiwi batter emphasized that his team would not be intimidated and was fully prepared for the challenge. With both sides in exceptional form, Williamson’s remarks underscored the excitement building around the final. New Zealand will look to use their strong performances in the tournament to take on India’s formidable lineup. With the stage set for a thrilling encounter, Williamson’s statement reflects his confidence in New Zealand’s ability to compete at the highest level and challenge India for the Champions Trophy title.

“India are an outstanding team and playing really well, so, look, it's important we try and take away some learnings from that last game. Park this match, and in a final, anything can happen And it was a great atmosphere last game and I'm sure it'll be a good one again,” stated former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in a recent interview. 

“The conditions are different, so it's important that we try and take away some of those positives and be nice and clear in how we're trying to operate come the final, We'll celebrate tonight but we'll be changing our focus quickly to this next match which is an exciting opportunity for us," he added. 

Kane Williamson, who scored his 15th ODI century (102 off 94) in New Zealand's 50-run win over South Africa in the semi-final, praised his teammate Rachin Ravindra for his remarkable performance. Rachin, who struck his second century of the tournament and fifth overall in ODIs, scored 108 off 101 balls, including 13 fours and a six. Williamson commended the 25-year-old southpaw for his composed and impactful knock, which played a crucial role in New Zealand posting a formidable total. Rachin's contribution, along with Williamson’s own century, formed a key partnership that guided New Zealand to victory. The praise from Williamson reflects the high regard in which Rachin is held, as the young batter continues to impress in ICC events with his consistency and maturity at the crease.

“Rachin is an incredibly special talent, it's always great to bat with him. He goes out and he puts the team first and he plays with that freedom,” Williamson concluded.