NEW DELHI: In Sunday’s Champions Trophy summit matchup against New Zealand, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has selected India as the favorite, but he has noted that the advantage will be negligible because the Black Caps are a strong team.
With an all-win record, India advanced to the final after defeating Australia in the semifinals. India have played all of their matches in Dubai.
With a lopsided victory over South Africa in the second semifinal in Lahore, New Zealand, who lost their league match and placed second behind India in Group A, guaranteed their place in the final.
“If there’s one team that can beat India, it’s New Zealand,” Shastri said in ‘The ICC Review’. “So India start as favourites but only just,” he said referring to the final, which will be a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy title clash, where New Zealand triumphed by four wickets in Nairobi.
Having watched both teams change over the years, the 62-year-old selected four New Zealand players who could have an impact on the crucial final.
He singled out captain Mitchell Santner as a “intelligent” leader who can influence the game with Glenn Phillips, who might be the team’s X-factor; Kane Williamson for his “stability and calmness like a saint”; and Rachin Ravindra, calling him “immensely talented.”
Shastri acknowledged Williamson’s ability to take advantage of pivotal times and emphasized Virat Kohli‘s recent form as a possible game-changer.
“Now (on) current form, Kohli. When these guys get hot and you let them get their first 10 runs, then they’re trouble. Whether it’s Williamson, whether it’s Kohli,” Shastri said.
“So from New Zealand, I would say Williamson. To an extent, Ravindra, he is a fabulous young player.
“But these guys when they smell the coffee and you let them, in a final, get to that 10-15, then they’re doubly dangerous.”
At the young age of 25, Ravindra is the youngest player to reach five hundreds in ICC 50-over competitions.
“I just like the way he moves in the crease,” Shastri said. “There’s an element of fluency, which is fabulous to see. He’s either forward, he’s back, he’ll cut, he’ll sweep it, play the quicks well, and he’s got a very good temperament.
“You don’t get hundreds in big tournaments like this just like that. You’ve got to have something up your sleeve, and I think he’s immensely talented.”
In addition to his skill as a batsman, former captain Williamson is an invaluable asset for New Zealand in the final because of his leadership and composed manner.
With scores of 102 in the semifinal match against South Africa and 81 against India, the veteran has been in scorching form.
“He’s very stable and there’s an element of calmness, a no-nonsense element about him the way he goes about his job,” Shastri said.
“He’s like a saint, a sage, just sitting, meditating. Lot of people look at the big shots, I look at the way he moves in the crease. There’s an element of fluency.
“Joe Root when he’s batting at his best. He’s forward, back. Kohli (as well). When people move in the crease, the footwork is sound.
“It’s a joy to watch. And then with their experience, their talent, the volume of runs they’ve got, doesn’t matter what format they play,” added Shastri.
Santner, who has performed well in his debut ICC event as captain of New Zealand, was also singled out by Shastri.
“He’s an intelligent man. And I think this captaincy suits him,” Shastri said. “It just adds that edge to him as a batter, as a bowler, as a cricketer.
“So I think it’s a smart move by New Zealand opting for that and just the way he goes about his job, like I said, he’s a good reader of the game, is an intelligent bloke and should be there for some time for New Zealand.”
Additionally, Shastri chose Phillips as one of the Player-of-the-Match nominees for his ability to win a match on his own, along with India’s Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
“Player of the Match, I would go for an all-rounder,” he said in The ICC Review. “I’ll say Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja from India.
“From New Zealand, I think that Glenn Phillips has something up. He might just show flashes of brilliance in the field. He might come and smash a cameo of 40, 50 and probably surprise you by taking a wicket or two.”
