India-Pakistan pitch for Champions Trophy final

 

The Champions Trophy final will be played on the same Dubai pitch used for the India-Pakistan clash on February 23rd. Expect a slow, spin-friendly surface, a condition India should embrace.

In that earlier encounter, Pakistan struggled against India's spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets. Now, with Varun Chakravarthy in the mix, India's spin arsenal looks even more formidable. While his impact on this specific pitch is debated, Chakravarthy is likely eager to exploit its conditions.

Dubai's pitches have favored bowlers throughout the tournament. The average score in Dubai is 246, significantly lower than the 295 in Pakistan. This highlights the pitch's sluggish nature. Even Australia's 264 in the semi-final against India was chased down with relative ease.

With Chakravarthy's current form and the established spin trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Axar, India should be highly confident against New Zealand. Notably, India is the only team to have dismissed all their opponents in the tournament.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) boasts ten pitches, all managed by Australian curator Matthew Sandery.

¹ They share a common characteristic: slow and conducive to spin. The ICC has utilized four different pitches so far, and for the final, the central pitch is being reused after a two-week rest.  

India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, believes the team's adaptability has negated any pitch concerns. "In every match, the wicket changes slightly," Kotak observed. "But our batsmen have shown exceptional ability to adapt. While the overall nature of the pitch remains consistent, our batting has been outstanding. We've had strong starts, and when those were lacking, the middle order stepped up."

With a spin-friendly pitch and a versatile batting lineup, India looks well-prepared to clinch the Champions Trophy.