Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against India, New Zealand coach Gary Stead emphasized learning from past mistakes. The match, set for March 9 at Dubai International Stadium, features India, undefeated in the tournament, facing a resilient New Zealand led by Mitchell Santner. India seeks redemption after previous losses in the 2019 World Cup semi-final and the 2021 Test Championship final. Controversies arise due to India’s consistent play in Dubai while other teams traveled from Pakistan, which some ex-players argue provides India an advantage. Stead highlights the need for adaptation and mental preparation for the crucial match.
Prior to the ICC Champions Trophy final against India, New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead mentioned that his team intends to learn from the errors made in the previous group stage match and will come back stronger for the championship encounter in this prestigious event. India is set to face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy on March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. India remains unbeaten in the tournament, while the Kiwis have demonstrated impressive performances with both bat and ball under the leadership of Mitchell Santner. This matchup is anticipated to be a thrilling continuation of the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, which New Zealand emerged victorious from.
India will be eager to seek revenge for their defeats against the Blackcaps in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
India opted not to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and has played all their matches in Dubai, in contrast to other teams in the tournament who had to make the trip between Pakistan and Dubai for their league stage and semifinal matches. This situation, where teams faced varying playing conditions, has sparked some debate within cricket circles, with former players like Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton suggesting that the scheduling could advantage India, which enjoys significantly reduced travel times, competes at a single venue where they are well-acquainted with the conditions, and tailored their squad with Dubai’s environment in mind.
Regarding the upcoming match, Stead expressed to the media, “There’s no doubt that coming here or playing in Lahore involves a full day of travel, which can be exhausting. However, we have a couple of days for recovery and planning and training ahead of the game. At this stage of the tournament, training isn’t always the priority; it’s about getting your body and mind ready to compete in the final, and that will be our main focus over the next two days.”
“The decisions regarding travel are beyond our control. We’ll focus on our game rather than that. India has played all their matches here in Dubai, but as mentioned, we have experienced a game here, and we’ll quickly learn from that experience. Reaching this stage of the tournament is thrilling, and if we’re capable of defeating India on Sunday, we’ll be extremely pleased,” he added.
Stead noted that transitioning from high-scoring, batting-friendly conditions in Pakistan to more bowler-friendly pitches in Dubai requires adaptability.
“It’s about adapting and assessing what the par score should be each day, and ideally being ahead of that. The risk is in transitioning from scoring around 360 in one match and expecting to do so again immediately, which can lead to being overly aggressive. For us, it’s crucial to determine the correct tactics for the day, considering who we’re up against, and then adjust accordingly,” stated Stead.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article