India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final: ‘New Zealand may lose but if..’ Nasser Hussain’s warning to Rohit Sharma led Indian team | Cricket News
With India and New Zealand having met twice in the ICC tournaments finals with both occasions seeing New Zealand winning the title in the past, the Mitchell Santner led New Zealand side will be eying their third win in an ICC tournament final over India in the Champions Trophy final at Dubai on Sunday. New Zealand won the 2000 Champions Trophy apart from winning the ICC Test Championship in 2021 to keep their record to two wins in two ICC finals. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has backed a tough New Zealand to be capable of winning against India on Sunday.
“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. They may well lose (New Zealand), but if they do, it will be because India beat them,” said Hussain while speaking with Sky Sports Cricket.
In recent years, both New Zealand and India have won a match each in the knockout stages of ICC tournaments with New Zealand winning the 2019 World Cup semi-final and India winning the 2023 World Cup semi-final. While New Zealand suffered a 44-run loss against India in the group match earlier in the tournament, the Mitchell Santner led side scored a 50- run win over South Africa in the semi-finals to set up the summit clash against India. Hussain recalled his conversation with former Australia captain Aaron Finch to talk about the island nation’s chances in the final. “They will not bottle it, they won’t choke. We were having dinner with Aaron Finch and he summed it up pretty well in saying 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,” added Hussain.
New Zealand have reached the semi-final or finals in the last three ODI World Cups with final appearances in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup and a semi-final appearance in the 2023 World Cup. Hussain touched upon the team’s ability to constantly reach the knockout stages in ICC tournaments. “All the way through the New Zealand lineup they have some very, very tough cricketers who turn up to every single game and give it their absolute best – that’s why they will always be there around semi-finals and finals.” said Hussain.
