Team India will play against New Zealand in the highly awaited Champions Trophy final this Sunday. It would be their second match in the tournament, and India had obtained a 40-run victory over the Kiwis in their Group A match to lead the group. Bizarrely, India has lost all their tosses in the tournament, and Rohit Sharma has lost the toss for the previous 14 ODIs. But ex-New Zealand coach Mike Hesson believes that this streak won’t have an impact on the final, as the absence of dew in Dubai diminishes the significance of the toss. He also acknowledged India’s dominant performance throughout the tournament.
More Dew On Ground Likely
“I for one thought there would be a little bit more dew at this ground at this time of year. Fortunately there hasn’t been. Therefore the toss is actually not a big factor and I think that’s great,” says Hesson, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
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Toss Not A Big Factor To Be Worried About
“Heading into a Champions Trophy final you’re not worried about who wins the toss and certainly if you’re an Indian fan and the fact Rohit Sharma’s lost 14 in a row, it’s not something you’re going to lose a whole heap of sleep over.”
Varun Chakaravarthy: A Big Game-Changer For India
One of India’s game-changers was spinner Varun Chakaravarthy who played in their group stage match against New Zealand. The experiment paid off, as the mystery spinner delivered a stunning five-wicket haul, which helped him claim the Player of the Match award. Chakaravarthy carried his momentum to the semi-final against Australia, where he contributed figures of 2/49 in his 10-over outing.
“I think at the toss, from a tactical point of view, New Zealand will want to bat first and they will want to do what they did against South Africa in the semifinal. The reason why I say that is because of this man here, Varun Chakaravarthy,” said Hesson.
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Hesson is of the opinion that Chakaravarthy’s very presence could influence New Zealand’s game plan during the coin toss, forcing them to make a strategic decision. India, for their part, would be seeking successive ICC white-ball titles, having already triumphed in the T20 World Cup last year with Rohit Sharma at the helm.
