Two former captains of England, the interim head coach of Pakistan, the regular captain of Australia, and a notable South African batsman have discussed India's significant advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as they will be playing all their matches at a single venue, the Dubai International Stadium. In contrast, New Zealand, who will face India in their final group-stage match on Sunday (March 2), remains unfazed by this situation. Kiwi all-rounder Michael Bracewell expressed that his team is more enthusiastic than worried about adapting to the new environment.

When questioned about India's perceived edge due to playing at the same venue while other teams alternate between Pakistan and Dubai, Bracewell offered a pragmatic perspective. "It is what it is. The decision has been made, and there's no use in dwelling on it," he stated. "This is part of what makes the tournament thrilling. Personally, I find it exciting to come to a different ground and navigate the varying conditions. There’s not much more to add other than our eagerness to learn and perform in diverse environments."

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India has established Dubai as their base for the tournament, citing security issues that prevented them from travelling to Pakistan. Conversely, New Zealand will be playing their inaugural match in Dubai after securing convincing victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh in their previous games held in Pakistan.

Bracewell acknowledged that the conditions in Dubai, especially the spin-friendly pitches, would necessitate swift adaptation. "The wickets here appear to have a bit of spin," he remarked. "Therefore, it will be beneficial for us to acclimatize to the pitches as quickly as possible." Nevertheless, he conveyed confidence in his team's capability to adjust to various playing surfaces. "We have certainly enjoyed the pitches in Pakistan, and I believe we possess a well-balanced squad that can perform in any conditions. We hope to maintain that adaptability and respond effectively to what lies ahead."

Bracewell highlights New Zealand' strong record against India in ICC events

New Zealand's impressive performance against India in ICC tournaments contributes to Bracewell's optimism ahead of the upcoming match. Following their recent 3-0 victory in a Test series held in India, Bracewell is confident that this achievement will enhance their morale as they approach the critical game on Sunday. "Naturally, coming off a significant Test series win instills a great deal of confidence in us, and we have a strong track record against India in ICC events," he remarked. "We aim to play our style of cricket, which has proven to be a favourable match-up thus far."

Additionally, Bracewell highlighted the necessity of maintaining composure in high-pressure situations. "We prefer not to impose excessive pressure on ourselves," he stated. "Our approach is to take each game as it comes and avoid allowing the moment to overwhelm us. This strategy has served us well in the past."

Who will be India's semi-final opponents?

The outcome of Sunday’s match will decide which team leads Group A, as both India and New Zealand have already secured their places in the semi-finals. Although the match may have considerable implications for the momentum leading into the knockout rounds, Bracewell emphasized that New Zealand would treat it with the seriousness it warrants. "No, it's definitely an important game for us. Anytime you take on India at an ICC event, it's always a big occasion. We're excited about the game. And obviously, if you can win the game, then it takes a lot of momentum through to that semifinal," he stated.

On the other hand, India’s KL Rahul has expressed that New Zealand is a team they respect greatly. "New Zealand have always been a very formidable and very competitive team," Rahul remarked. "It's been quite even, the contest, so I think it should be no different." Both teams will aim to maintain their winning momentum in what is expected to be an exhilarating match in Dubai.

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