The pitch for the Champions Trophy final has been finalised, and as reportedly foreseen, it is expected to be another slow surface, similar to many others in Dubai.
According to reports, the final will be played on the same pitch used for the Group A clash between India and Pakistan. This surface is once again expected to assist spinners, giving India a potential advantage in the final against New Zealand with their strong spin attack.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium has a total of 10 pitches, all prepared under the supervision of Australian curator Matthew Sandry. These pitches are generally slow, offering significant turns, which makes batting challenging.
Across four matches at the Dubai Stadium, the average first-innings score has been 246, with the highest total of 264 posted by Australia against India in the semi-final. India successfully chased this total in 49 overs, losing six wickets. In contrast, Pakistan’s average first-innings score over 10 matches has been 295.
Historically, Dubai’s pitches have favoured bowlers over batters, and a similar trend is expected for the Champions Trophy final. Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja took five wickets in the February 23 match against Pakistan, restricting them from posting a big total.
Varun Chakravarthy, who did not play the match, is expected to relish the conditions in the final. The pacers also received some assistance in the early overs, which could benefit both teams’ pace attacks.
India’s spin attack has been in excellent form throughout the tournament, playing a key role in their success. They are the only team to have bowled out all four of their opponents.
As both teams gear up for an exciting finale, the slow and spin-friendly conditions at Dubai Stadium seem poised to play into India’s strengths, giving their spinners and adaptable batting lineup a chance to dominate on the grand stage.
The Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand will be played in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.