Aakash Chopra Reveals India’s Secret Weapon for Champions Trophy Final Against New Zealand

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:42:23 +0000

Aakash Chopra Reveals India’s Secret Weapon: Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has suggested a bold change to India’s playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The much-anticipated clash is set to take place in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.

Chopra believes India should drop left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for a tactical reason and bring in off-spinner Washington Sundar. He thinks Sundar could be India’s surprise weapon in this high-stakes final.

Why Chopra Wants Washington Sundar Over Kuldeep Yadav

Chopra pointed out that New Zealand’s batting lineup has several left-handed players, making Sundar’s off-spin a valuable asset. The cricket expert believes Sundar’s ability to bowl economically and trouble left-handers could be a game-changer for India.

On his YouTube channel, Chopra explained his reasoning:

“I think Washington Sundar should replace Kuldeep Yadav for this match. It’s not about Kuldeep’s form, but a tactical move based on match-ups. Strategically, Sundar could be a great pick against New Zealand.”

He also reminded fans that Sundar has performed well against the Black Caps before, mentioning his previous success at venues like Pune and Wankhede.

“Sundar’s resurgence in international cricket started against this very team. So, there is a strong case for his selection,”
Chopra added.

Chopra’s Take on India’s Team Balance

While Chopra acknowledged that India’s current playing XI has been successful throughout the tournament, he argued that adding a right-arm off-spinner could give the team better balance.

“There’s no rule that says you must stick to the same team. People say, ‘Why fix something if it isn’t broken?’ But when you look at our bowling lineup, we already have Varun Chakravarthy as a wrist-spinner and two left-arm finger spinners in Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. We don’t have a right-arm off-spinner, and that’s why Sundar could be a smart choice,”
Chopra concluded.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Performance in Champions Trophy 2025

Kuldeep Yadav has had a decent but not outstanding tournament. In four matches, he has taken five wickets at an average of 36.60 and an economy rate of 5.01. While the Dubai conditions have favored spinners, Kuldeep has struggled to make a big impact.

In the group stage match against New Zealand, he picked up two wickets but failed to take any in the semifinal against Australia.

India vs New Zealand in ICC Knockouts

Historically, New Zealand has had the upper hand against India in ICC knockout matches. The two teams have met in four such games, with the Black Caps winning three of them. Most notably, they knocked India out of the 2019 World Cup semifinal in England.

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New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Reveals Toss Plan Before Champions Trophy Final vs India

Zezan D'Souza — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:13:52 +0000

New Zealand Coach Gary Stead Reveals Toss: New Zealand head coach Gary Stead may have accidentally revealed his team’s strategy for the final against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The big match is set for Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

This will be the second time India and New Zealand face off in the tournament. They previously played each other in the group stage, where India won by 44 runs. India scored 249 runs and then bowled out New Zealand for 205, with spinner Varun Chakravarthy taking five wickets.

Chakravarthy a Big Concern for New Zealand

Ahead of the final, Stead admitted that New Zealand would likely choose to bat first if they win the toss. His reason? The threat of India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy.

Speaking to reporters, Stead explained that it is easier for batsmen to face Chakravarthy during daylight. He acknowledged that the spinner is a major challenge for New Zealand and said his team must figure out a way to counter him.

“When you are facing a wrist spinner like him, you look for small clues as a batsman. I think it’s a bit easier to spot them in daylight,”
Stead said.

“There’s no doubt that he is a top-class bowler. He showed his skills against us last time, and he will be a big threat in the final. We need to come up with a plan to handle him while still scoring runs,”
he added.

Matt Henry’s Injury Update

Stead also shared an update on fast bowler Matt Henry, who is uncertain for the final due to a shoulder injury. Henry hurt himself while taking a catch during the semifinal against South Africa.

Although he briefly left the field, he later returned to bowl. Stead said the team remains hopeful, but Henry’s fitness is still unclear.

“The good thing is that he managed to come back and bowl. He has undergone scans, and we will give him every chance to play. But at this stage, we are not sure if he will be fit,”
Stead said.

“He is quite sore after landing on his shoulder, but we hope he recovers in time.”

New Zealand will be eager for Henry to be fit as he has been their best bowler in the tournament. So far, he has taken 10 wickets in 4 matches, including a five-wicket haul against India.