DUBAI: Having stung by him once at this very venue, New Zealand are clearly wary of the threat that ‘mystery spinner’ Varun Chakaravarthy poses in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Last Sunday, Varun took five for 42 in eight overs to skittle the Black Caps out for just 205 in the last league match of the tournament. On Saturday, Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner, himself a fine left-arm spinner, praised the 33-year-old tweaker, who has taken seven wickets in two matches in the tournament, including scalping Australia’s explosive opener Travis Head off his first ball, and even talked about his quick arm-ball that uprooted his off-stump in the group stage match.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“I think guys will be better for the run against Varun. He’s obviously a world-class bowler, we’ve seen it here and obviously in the IPL and that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him. I think they’ll learn from the other day. If the pitch plays a similar way, it’s going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners. I think the boys will be ready for tomorrow. And looked at a little bit more footage. We obviously know what his threats are now. That 115K arm ball, that got me. That was a bit of a threat, but we know he’s going to be a challenge,” Santner told reporters on the eve of the final.
Matt Henry‘s fitness still a concern
Going into the final, the Black Caps are sweating over the fitness of their leading pacer Matt Henry, currently the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps in four matches. Henry suffered a shoulder injury during the semifinal against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Santner said that the management will take a call when the Kiwis are done with their training at the ICC Academy on Saturday evening. “We’ll be going across the road and training after this. Matt’s going to have a bowl just to see how he is. I guess we’ll make a call after that,” said the Kiwi skipper.
‘Hopefully, we’ll be third time lucky’
Incidentally, both the ICC titles that New Zealand have won – the ICC Knockout in 2000 and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021, came at the expense of beating India in the final. “Hopefully we’re third time lucky. India is going to be a challenge tomorrow. They’ve been playing some very good cricket. They understand these conditions pretty well. I think we’ve also been playing decently. Admittedly, obviously, slightly different conditions. But I think, having the run against India here a few days ago will definitely help us out, understanding the conditions a little bit better,” said Santner. “But it is a knockout game. And I guess whoever turns up on the day could take home a trophy,” he added.
‘That’s probably the most spinners we’ve had’
It’s not often in New Zealand’s history that one has seen the kind of variety in the spinners that the Black Caps have currently at their disposal. While Santner, who has taken seven wickets in four msatches@27.71, with a best haul of three for 43, is a world-class left-arm spinner, there is off-spinning allrounder Michael Bracewell, left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra and off-spinning all-rounder Glenn Phillips in their armoury. It’s a major reason why they have made the final in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was hosted by Pakistan, a subcontinental country, and this is what makes them a formidable force against India in the final on Sunday, which could be played on a slowish pitch with slight help for the spinners.
Asked on whether this was the best Kiwi spin attack that he has been a part of, the 33-year-old Santner answered in the affirmative.
“That’s probably the most (number of) spinners we’ve had. I think like what you said, I think everyone offers something different with the ball. I guess me and Rachin bowl differently, and so do Bracewell and Phillips. I think having a few all-rounders as well makes the balance of the side good. We can still play the seamers if we need to. And yeah, I think that the way everyone’s kind of stepped up at different times, this tournament’s been, I guess, one of the most pleasing things. We’ve seen Phillips do it with a bat and in the field, but he’s obviously taken some pretty key wickets this tournament,” Santner said.
“And obviously, Rachin’s spell the other day was awesome (1-20 in five overs in the semifinals against South Africa at Lahore) as well. So, I know (that) we’ve got obviously a few spin options, and so do India. So, we’ll see,” the Black Caps captain said.
