There Is Much At Stake Amid The Compelling India And New Zealand Cricket Final

It’s the deserved final for the resurrected Champions Trophy matching undisputed cricket power India with the sport’s great underdog New Zealand.

Unfortunately, dampening the occasion somewhat, it isn’t being played in host country Pakistan due to India’s strict government stance. It is instead being played in Dubai which has always stepped in when cricket is tangled in politics.

While it would have been surreal to see India playing in enemy territory of Pakistan, the final of cricket’s biggest men’s event of the year should still be an enthralling contest.

India are the hot favorites and play particularly well on the slower and lower surfaces of Dubai, where they have been based for the entirety of this tournament.

The compromise between India and Pakistan has meant that the format has been a mockery and the source of much derision. India are the only team that have been able to have the comforts of staying in the same country, not needing to do the three-hour flight back and forth from Pakistan.

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It’s a decided advantage, but India would probably be favorites in this match wherever they play. India have dominated short form cricket for some time, but without the silverware. They broke a decade-long curse last year when they claimed the T20 World Cup after a thrilling victory over South Africa in the final.

India are now looking to break a hex in the 50-over format having agonizingly fallen shot at their home World Cup in 2023 when 100,000 fans in Ahmedabad were left stunned by a rampaging Australia.

This won’t so much be revenge - this tournament is mostly seen as an afterthought outside of South Asia - but a chance for India to stamp themselves as the dominant team in this format. There is also an unknown over the futures of skipper Rohit Sharma and talisman Virat Kohli in this format.

Speculation is swirling in the subcontinent, potentially heightening the stakes of the final. The next World Cup is not until 2027, so it might be the right time to step aside and let a transition take place with the India team not short of talented batters. Steve Smith has done something similar for Australia having announced his retirement from 50-over cricket after their loss to India.

It’s not only about potential sending off their legends on a high note. India have a chance to stamp themselves as the best ODI team since Australia’s GOAT team won three straight World Cup titles from 1999-2007.

India will need to win the 2027 World Cup for this official status, but they can take a firm step towards that by winning in Dubai. A triumph is not guaranteed with New Zealand also particularly suited to the conditions and they relish being written off.

New Zealand have famously never won a World Cup title, enduring the most agonizing defeat in cricket’s wildest ever match in 2019, but they have a formidable record in major events.

It might be a different format, but they will have confidence after producing cricket’s biggest upset with their Test whitewash in India late last year. The match-up is cricket’s David and Goliath - a country with billions of dollars in revenue that essentially strongarms the sport against a nation to ward off players lured to well heeled T20 franchise league such as the Indian Premier League.

It’s a compelling contest that will liven up the normally dull surrounds of Dubai International Stadium.