{"id":60281,"date":"2025-03-08T08:10:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T08:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/?p=60281"},"modified":"2025-03-08T08:10:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T08:10:15","slug":"ravi-shastri-backs-india-as-favourites-for-champions-trophy-final-against-new-zealandv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/08\/ravi-shastri-backs-india-as-favourites-for-champions-trophy-final-against-new-zealandv\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravi Shastri Backs India as Favourites for Champions Trophy Final Against New ZealandV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri<\/strong> has tipped India<\/strong> as the favourites in Sunday\u2019s Champions Trophy final<\/strong> against New Zealand<\/strong>, but acknowledged that the margin of advantage is minimal, given the Black Caps’ formidable track record in ICC tournaments.<\/p>\n

India, unbeaten throughout the tournament, stormed into the final after defeating Australia<\/strong> in the semifinal. New Zealand, who finished second in Group A<\/strong> behind India, secured their spot with a dominant victory over South Africa<\/strong> in Lahore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“If Any Team Can Beat India, It’s New Zealand” \u2013 Shastri<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Speaking on \u2018The ICC Review\u2019<\/strong>, Shastri emphasized that New Zealand remains a strong contender.<\/p>\n

“India start as favourites, but only just. If there\u2019s one team that can beat India, it\u2019s New Zealand.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final will be a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy final<\/strong>, where New Zealand triumphed by four wickets<\/strong> in Nairobi.<\/p>\n

Key Players to Watch Out For<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shastri highlighted four New Zealand players who could have a decisive impact:
\ud83d\udd39 Rachin Ravindra<\/strong> \u2013 “Immensely talented, with exceptional fluency at the crease.”
\ud83d\udd39 Kane Williamson<\/strong> \u2013 “Brings stability and a calmness akin to a saint.”
\ud83d\udd39 Mitchell Santner<\/strong> \u2013 “An intelligent leader with great tactical awareness.”
\ud83d\udd39 Glenn Phillips<\/strong> \u2013 “Could be the X-factor with his all-round abilities.”<\/p>\n

For India, Shastri pointed out Virat Kohli\u2019s current form<\/strong> as a potential game-changer, while also acknowledging Williamson\u2019s ability to seize crucial moments.<\/p>\n

“When these guys get going, they are trouble. If you let them get their first 10-15 runs, they become doubly dangerous.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rachin Ravindra: A Rising Star<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At just 25<\/strong>, Ravindra has already smashed five centuries<\/strong> in ICC 50-over tournaments<\/strong>, making him the youngest to achieve this milestone.<\/p>\n

“I love the way he moves in the crease. His fluency is incredible. He\u2019s either forward, back, cutting, sweeping\u2014he plays quicks well and has a strong temperament.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Williamson\u2019s Leadership and Composure<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shastri lauded Williamson\u2019s impact, especially his recent performances: 81 against India and 102 against South Africa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s like a saint, a sage meditating. He has a no-nonsense approach and supreme footwork, much like Joe Root and Kohli.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Santner’s Captaincy and Glenn Phillips\u2019 X-Factor<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shastri credited Santner<\/strong> for leading New Zealand<\/strong> efficiently in his first ICC event as captain.<\/p>\n

“Captaincy suits him. He\u2019s a smart reader of the game, and it adds an edge to his batting and bowling.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

He also highlighted Glenn Phillips<\/strong> as a potential Player of the Match<\/strong>, given his ability to change games with both bat and ball.<\/p>\n

Shastri\u2019s Player of the Match Predictions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\ud83d\udd39 India<\/strong> \u2013 Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja<\/strong> (all-round performance)
\ud83d\udd39 New Zealand<\/strong> \u2013 Glenn Phillips<\/strong> (“Could deliver a match-turning cameo or take crucial wickets.”)<\/p>\n

With both teams stacked with match-winners, Sunday\u2019s Champions Trophy final<\/strong> promises to be an electrifying encounter. \ud83c\udfc6\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has tipped India as the favourites in Sunday\u2019s Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, but acknowledged that the margin of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60281","post","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60283,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60281\/revisions\/60283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earlypostdaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}