On Friday, Indian cricketers focused on sharpening their skills against left-arm and off-spin bowling, getting ready to face New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. The team’s top and middle-order batsmen practiced against an internal spin squad made up of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as a selection of local spin bowlers.
In their last match, New Zealand captain Santner bowled exceptionally well, achieving figures of 1 wicket for 41 runs in 10 overs. However, Bracewell’s performance was less impressive, with 0 wickets for 56 runs in 9 overs. Together, they have taken 13 wickets across four matches. Rachin Ravindra also delivered a strong left-arm spin performance, taking 1 wicket for 31 runs in 6 overs.
With the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium expected to favor spinners, the Indian batsmen wanted to ensure they were well-prepared. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, noted that the pitch conditions could continue to support slow bowlers.
“Wickets can change, but this one hasn’t altered much in terms of its tendency. Our batting has been solid. In our four matches, whether we batted first or second, our openers have done well, and even when they didn’t score big, the middle order contributed,” he said.
Kotak also pointed out the importance of middle-order runs, which proved valuable during the semifinal against Australia. “So far, power hitting hasn’t been a major requirement, and that trend continued in the last game,” he said.
He believes the Indian batsmen have the flexibility to adapt to different pitch conditions. “Our players can adjust to any surface, which is crucial. If the pitch looks like it can produce a score around 350, we might play more aggressively since the ball will come onto the bat better.”
“For pitches like this one in Dubai, it’s essential to rotate the strike, take the game deep, and set the highest target possible when batting first or chase down effectively,” he added, expressing confidence in their preparation as they head into the final.
