Nasser Hussain warns India ahead of Champions Trophy final
What's the story
Former England captain, Nasser Hussain, has warned India ahead of the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Hussain stressed that New Zealand will be a much tougher opponent than South Africa, whom India defeated in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup final. The match, which will be played in Dubai on March 9, will decide the champion of this prestigious tournament.
Resilience
Hussain praises New Zealand's resilience
Hussain also praised New Zealand's ability to perform under pressure. "They will not bottle it, they won't choke," he told Sky Sports. Further elaborating on their consistency and determination, he said, "New Zealand are never a side that beat themselves. And by that, he means that they will rock up and they will put in a performance." This resilience has been a hallmark of the Kiwi team in recent years.
Form
New Zealand's impressive form leading up to the final
New Zealand have been in phenomenal form throughout their tour of Pakistan. They hardly faced any resistance from South Africa and Pakistan in a tri-series before the Champions Trophy. Despite losing to India by 44 runs in Dubai, they returned to Pakistan and defeated South Africa by 50 runs in the semi-final. This consistency makes them a tough opponent for India.
Key players
The battle of spinners
Hussain emphasized the balance in New Zealand's squad, saying, "They also have that great mixture between senior pros that have been there year in, year out - like Kane Williamson, one of the all-time greats - and youth in the likes of Rachin Ravindra." This combination of experience and youth will be key in the final. The match promises to be a spin battle with India's four spinners against New Zealand's Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell.