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India-Pakistan Pitch to Be Used for Champions Trophy Final
Dubai Pitch Set for High-Stakes Champions Trophy Final
The stage is set for the Champions Trophy final, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the pitch used for the high-voltage India vs. Pakistan group stage clash on February 23 will be used again for the title decider. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) surface, known for its sluggish nature and spin-friendly conditions, is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming match between India and New Zealand.
The Spin Factor: Advantage India?
Spinners Shine on This Surface
During the group-stage match between India and Pakistan, the slow pitch made batting difficult, with the Indian spin trio—Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja—dominating the proceedings. They collectively claimed five wickets, restricting Pakistan’s batting lineup effectively.
With the final set to be played on the same pitch, India’s strong spin attack, now bolstered by the in-form Varun Chakravarthy, is likely to benefit. Chakravarthy’s ability to deceive batters with his variations adds an extra edge to India’s bowling arsenal.
Dubai Pitches Favor Bowlers
Throughout the Champions Trophy, Dubai’s pitches have generally been favorable to bowlers. The average first-innings total across four games at this venue stands at 246, with Australia posting the highest total (264) in the semifinal against India. In comparison, matches held in Pakistan have seen higher scoring, with an average first-innings total of 295.
With India being the only team in the tournament to bowl out every opposition so far, their spin-heavy strategy could prove decisive in the final.
Dubai Pitch Conditions and Preparation
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium features ten pitches, all managed by Australian curator Matthew Sandery. Most of these tracks share similar characteristics—low bounce, slow movement, and significant turn for spinners.
The ICC has rotated among four different pitches throughout the tournament, and for the final, they have chosen one located at the center of the ground. Since it was last used over two weeks ago, the surface has had sufficient time to recover, ensuring an even contest.
Batting Coach’s Take: Adaptability is Key
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak weighed in on the pitch conditions, emphasizing that the team’s batting unit has successfully adapted to the challenges posed by varying surfaces.
“In every match, the wicket changes slightly. As a batting coach, how do you assess our batsmen’s ability to adapt? While the wicket does change a bit, its overall nature hasn’t shifted much. However, the batting has been excellent. And secondly, we’ve been fortunate to get solid starts, and on occasions when those starts were lacking, the middle order stepped up,” said Kotak before India’s training session at the ICC Academy on March 7.
What to Expect in the Final
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The pitch is expected to remain slow, favoring spinners.
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India’s well-rounded bowling attack could hold the advantage.
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New Zealand’s ability to counter spin will be tested.
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A low-scoring thriller is on the cards.
With the stakes at an all-time high, the battle between bat and ball will determine who lifts the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
Read more about India’s road to the Champions Trophy final.
Check out the latest Champions Trophy news on ICC’s official website.
