Dubai: The most engaging narratives in sports often revolve around themes of revenge. In the 2021 World Test Championship final, New Zealand triumphed over India, continuing a trend established during their previous encounter in the Champions Trophy final in 2000. Ajit Agarkar, a participant in that earlier match, is currently in Dubai serving as India’s chief selector.

However, let us set aside the notion of retribution in the context of India versus New Zealand. What compels a rivalry with a team that approaches the game purely for its own sake? India is not harbouring any resentments as they prepare for Sunday’s final in Dubai, where they have been based for the past fifteen days.

“It feels like I am getting married all over again,” quipped New Zealand head coach Gary Stead, as a group of Indian journalists sought his insights ahead of the match. Kiwi cricketers have become accustomed to competing in front of a crowd that is often not in their favor, with no media presence or local supporters.

“I can’t imagine there will be too many black shirts in the crowd,” remarked captain Mitchell Santner. “However, we do have the support of our country back home. Admittedly, it’s likely the middle of the night there, but if everyone can manage to take a break from work to watch the cricket, that would be fantastic.”

India demonstrated a singular focus during their training session on Friday, while New Zealand matched that intensity on Saturday. Both teams are well-versed in the pressures of high-stakes matches. Over the past fifteen years, India has reached the finals of eight ICC events, securing victory three times. In contrast, New Zealand has reached four finals, winning once.

Although Australia may not be as dominant as they once were, they have a perfect record in finals, having won all four they have reached. For India, with their wealth of talent, emulating this relentless Australian mentality would be a significant achievement. Securing another trophy to follow last year’s T20 title would mark a promising beginning.

Gill remarked on the eve of the match, “Securing a title can often dispel the pressure and create momentum. Once you have achieved that first victory, the urgency to win diminishes. When players become overly desperate, it becomes challenging to separate the occasion from their performance. In high-stakes matches, those who can manage the pressure tend to have a greater likelihood of success. Winning the title in 2024 does not diminish our hunger; rather, it contributes to a more balanced approach.”

Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten Indian team is eager to change their fortunes regarding the toss. “We often joke about how many tosses have been lost,” Gill noted.

“It seems like a fortunate toss to lose for Rohit since they keep winning,” Santner quipped humorously.

The final will take place on the same pitch as the India-Pakistan match, where Indian spinners successfully limited Pakistan to 241 last week. The center wicket features evenly distributed square boundaries. India is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup, featuring four spin bowling options, including two all-rounders. The presence of genuine all-rounders provides India with the necessary depth and competitive advantage.

Axar Patel’s elevation to the No. 5 batting position has proven effective, particularly given his proficiency against spin. However, he must be cautious of the tall New Zealand pacers who may impede his scoring rate. In the 36 deliveries faced from pace bowlers, the left-hander has recorded a strike rate of only 36. Although Ravindra Jadeja has not yet been called upon to bat, he remains the most formidable No. 8 option available for this format.

India remains unchallenged

One concern for India is the potential lack of competition. While victories have become increasingly challenging, their most arduous test was the semi-final against Australia. Throughout that match, Virat Kohli’s steady presence during the run chase ensured that the target remained attainable. Only the New Zealand bowlers posed significant challenges for India last week, providing valuable lessons for the batters.

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