The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final will have a surface that has already seen a fierce rivalry. The Dubai pitch, where the intense India-Pakistan showdown was staged on February 23, will again be involved for the title-deciding encounter between India and New Zealand. The report is that the pitch will be slow and flat, offering maximum support to the spinners. This might turn the final into a tactical game where spin management and flexibility of approach would play the decisive role.
The Pitch Has Already Experienced Ferocious Action
There are 10 pitches at Dubai Cricket Stadium, handled by Australian curator Matthew Sandery. The last match will be held at the center wicket, which already experienced India’s strong show against Pakistan. Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja together took five wickets, holding Pakistan to 241 in 49.4 overs. Virat Kohli then orchestrated the chase with an unbeaten century, which saw India claim victory with six wickets to spare and 45 balls remaining.
Rested Pitch Policy Keeps Surface Intact Prior to the Champions Trophy,
Dubai also played several ILT20 matches, which added to the chances of pitch deterioration. Nevertheless, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) followed a two-weeks’ rest policy for each track utilized during the tournament. This helped in ensuring that all pitches were in perfect condition for major games.
No team in the tournament has been able to surpass the 300-run barrier in Dubai. The highest total achieved was in the semi-final between India and Australia, with India chasing 265 successfully. In contrast to the semi-final surface, which was a fresh pitch, the final will be on an already-used track. This may impact team strategies, benefiting teams that have powerful spin attacks.
India and New Zealand Need to Adapt to Slow Conditions
India and New Zealand both have quality spinners at their disposal, and thus their choice of selectors becomes important. India’s combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel have already proved themselves on slow pitches. New Zealand, however, will count on Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi to take advantage of the slow pitch.
Batting on this pitch won’t be simple, particularly in the second innings as the surface deteriorates. Stroke play may become tough, and teams will have to tinker with their strategy. There may be a role played by dew in the evening too, which may help batters playing under lights.
The Effect of an Abused Surface in a Big-Bucks Final
Playing on a surface that has been used before in a major final has both pros and cons. Although there is an understanding of how the surface reacts for teams, it also takes away from the lack of predictability a new pitch could provide. As the track had the India-Pakistan match already, the ground staff got enough time to get it ready again, but there could still be wear and tear marks on it.
New Zealand will have to devise a means of countering India’s spin danger. They will also have to get their pace attack, spearheaded by Trent Boult and Tim Southee, to get movement early on. In the meantime, India’s opening order, headed by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will have to change their stroke play to accommodate the slow conditions.
Last Stand on a Legendary Pitch
With the scene set for an epic conclusion, both sides will have to ready themselves for a war of patience and ability. The conditions at the pitch hint at a lower-scoring match, where partnerships and spin control might be the difference between lifting the Champions Trophy. With India and New Zealand taking to the same surface where an iconic India-Pakistan match was played, cricket fans are in for another edge-of-the-seat encounter under the Dubai lights.
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