Not Shubman Gill Or Virat Kohli! Ravi Shastri Predicts Two Players Who Can Win Man Of The Match In The Final (Source: AP)
India's Champions Trophy juggernaut has resembled their dominant run in the ODI World Cup 2023 where they reached the final undefeated. India were hot favourites to win the World Cup but they were stunned by Australia in the summit clash. The Men in Blue will leave no stone unturned to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself, and they have the team to steamroll New Zealand in the final. India are a better team on paper, and they have more resources given the conditions but who can rule out the determined Kiwis against India in an ICC event? New Zealand have handed many heartbreaking blows to India and they, for sure, wouldn't be generous enough to let the Rohit Sharma-led side bag the trophy without breaking a sweat.
New Zealand did lose to India in the last league game but they put the team in a sport of bother after restricting them to 249-9. Had they batted slightly better, they could have upset the Indian team. New Zealand shouldn't make too much from the defeat because they will be aware that if they beat India on Sunday, they'll grab all the headlines in the media and not India, who have been the best team in the tournament irrespective of the result on Sunday.
The pitch that was used for the India vs Pakistan game will be used again in the final and it's no secret that spinners will play a big role in the summit clash.
Ravi Shastri's Bold Champions Trophy Prediction
Meanwhile, former India coach Ravi Shastri made a few bold predictions for the final. When asked to pick the Player of the Match (POTM) in the summit clash, he backed spin all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel to win the POTM. He also said that if New Zealand win the match, Glenn Phillips could bag the honour.
“Player of the Match, I would go for an all-rounder,” he said in The ICC Review. “I’ll say Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja from India. From New Zealand, I think that Glenn Phillips has something up. He might just show flashes of brilliance in the field. He might come and smash a cameo of 40, 50 and probably surprise you by taking a wicket or two,” Shastri said.
Shastri also predicted Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra to play big roles for their respective teams in the final if they are to win the trophy.
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