Kane Williamson has played down all the fears that India is well accustomed to the conditions in Dubai ahead of their Champions Trophy final, saying it’s not something they can control. Rather, Williamson would prefer his team to concentrate on giving a good performance irrespective of the location, accepting that India is a strong side in any condition.
Kane Williamson On Playing Against India
“Yeah definitely the conditions are a lot different but you know that’s sort of the nature of the beast I think in any tournament that you have, conditions change a little bit throughout. For us, it was nice to have that last match against India. There’s some really good bits there. 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,” Williamson said.
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New Zealand In Champions Trophy Final
New Zealand reserved their final spot after a comprehensive 50-run win against South Africa in the semi-final on March 5, fueled by centuries from Williamson (102) and Rachin Ravindra (108). Their next match against India will be a repeat of their group-stage meeting, where the Men in Blue won by 44 runs. Addressing the post-match media conference, Williamson brushed aside fears of India gaining an upper hand by hosting all their games in Dubai, referring to such issues as “part and parcel of the game.”
Different Match Conditions
“It is what it is (India playing in Dubai). Our focus is the next match, the location of that match, the opposition, they’re all factors. Obviously, we played India there once. 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 two- or three-days’ time in the final. It’s the nature of it and we’re looking forward to the final and excited about it,” he added.
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Spin Friendly Pitches In Dubai
In their previous meeting, India’s spinners took full control on Dubai’s spin-friendly surface, with Varun Chakravarthy ripping through the Kiwi batting lineup with a sensational five-wicket haul. Despite Williamson’s resilient 81-run knock, New Zealand fell short. With the final set to take place at the same venue on March 9, the Black Caps will need to refine their approach to counter India’s lethal spin attack.
Williamson Stays Optimistic
But Williamson is optimistic about New Zealand’s ability to adapt, citing their recent form as evidence of their competence in doing so. The batting order of the team has been in top shape, with Ravindra going on his dream run and Daryl Mitchell chipping in with important runs. But the task is still daunting, given that India’s trio of spinners—Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Chakravarthy—would again be too much to handle.
New Zealand, specialists when it comes to fighting their way through ICC tournaments, will be keen to turn around history after their previous loss to India in the group stages. With the much-coveted Champions Trophy at stake, both the teams will have to play their best game in what appears to be an exhilarating finale wherein strategy, implementation, and poise will be the key determinants.
