India will face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, aiming for their second ICC title within a year after winning the T20 World Cup in June 2024. Led by Rohit Sharma, India has been in excellent form, winning all three group matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, followed by a semi-final victory over Australia. However, star batter Virat Kohli suffered a knee injury during practice but is expected to play in the final. Kohli’s recent performances show his determination, especially in managing challenges posed by spin bowlers like Adam Zampa.
India is gearing up to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this Sunday. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team aims to secure its second ICC title in under a year, having already claimed the T20 World Cup trophy in June 2024. Throughout this tournament, Rohit and his teammates have shown exceptional form, winning all three of their group stage matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, and then defeating Australia in the semi-final.
However, India is facing a significant injury concern ahead of the final, as star batsman Virat Kohli reportedly sustained a knee injury during practice. According to a report from Geo TV, Kohli was hit by a delivery from a fast bowler and immediately ceased training. The physio attended to him, applying a spray and bandaging the injured area. Although Kohli did not bat afterward, the coaching staff reassured that the injury is minor and he is set to play in the final.
Typically, a Kohli innings in a successful chase leaves fans wanting more, but his 84 that led India to a semifinal win against Australia in Dubai had an air of incompleteness.
A familiar century from Kohli on Tuesday would have marked his 25th three-figure score while chasing a target. Nonetheless, the seasoned player had much to be pleased about, fulfilling significant objectives in his performance. Here are two of the most crucial points.
Box No.1: He successfully handled spinners, a vulnerability that had plagued him for a long time, particularly exploited recently by Adil Rashid from England and Rishad Hossain from Bangladesh.
Box No.2: His fifty was fueled by the determination to overcome an opponent that has caused India and Kohli considerable grief in the past. Through his performance, he seemed to express his readiness to continue the fight and reach even greater heights.
However, attaining this form has required hard work. Kohli dedicated an extra two hours in the nets to refine his skills in preparation for the match against Pakistan after his dismissal by Hossain against Bangladesh.
Following that, he managed to neutralize Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, but Adam Zampa presents a different challenge as a white-ball leg-spinner.
The slow pitch in Dubai typically becomes even slower in the latter half, potentially enhancing Zampa’s effectiveness.
Since their first encounter in 2017, Zampa has dismissed Kohli five times in white-ball formats, and Kohli’s preferred strategy against the Australian leg-spinner has been to counterattack.
Prior to the Champions Trophy clash, Kohli had amassed 264 runs from 245 balls against Zampa at a strike-rate of 107.
However, the pitch conditions demanded a different strategy from Kohli, as he scored 23 runs off 24 balls against Zampa and 12 runs off nine balls against Tanveer Sangha.
While his innings may not have been spectacular, it proved to be effective in a challenging chase of 265, even though he ultimately fell to Zampa after his team’s task was secured.
India will be looking to Kohli to maintain this form in the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
(With PTI Inputs)
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