Sunil Gavaskar believes that while India has been dominant in the Champions Trophy 2025, winning all four of their matches so far, the team is still not performing at its absolute peak. India’s campaign has been highly impressive, with victories over strong teams, including their final opponents New Zealand in the group stage. However, despite their unbeaten streak and formidable bowling performances, Gavaskar feels that there are areas where the team can improve to ensure a comprehensive victory in the final.
Speaking to India Today, the legendary cricketer pointed out that India’s opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, have struggled with consistency in the past few games. While both have played crucial innings in different matches, they have not been able to provide steady starts, which Gavaskar sees as an area of concern. He stressed that a strong and aggressive start in the powerplay can set the tone for the rest of the innings, and India must aim to rectify this issue in the final.
Another key area of concern, according to Gavaskar, is India’s performance with the new ball. He noted that the team has not been able to pick up enough wickets in the first 10 overs, which allows the opposition to settle in and build a foundation for a competitive total. Early breakthroughs are crucial in high-stakes matches, and Gavaskar believes India must make an effort to be more aggressive in their approach, particularly in the opening spell.
Gavaskar also observed that while India has done an excellent job of restricting the flow of runs in the middle overs, the bowlers have not been able to consistently pick up wickets during this phase. In limited-overs cricket, particularly in high-pressure games like the final, taking wickets at regular intervals can prevent the opposition from accelerating in the later stages of the innings. He emphasized that if India can improve in these areas—stronger starts from the openers, more wickets in the powerplay, and breakthroughs in the middle overs—their chances of winning the final will be significantly higher.
"They haven't [operated at 100%] because when you look at the openers, they haven't really given the Indian team the kind of start that they had hoped for. That has not happened. So, clearly, I think there's a shortcoming over there. Even with the new ball, you definitely want to take about 2 or 3 wickets in the first 10 overs. That's also not quite been happening. In the middle overs, we have not got wickets, even though the runs have not been flowing. So those are areas that, if you get better in, the better the chances of going on and winning the final," said Gavaskar.
Despite these concerns, Gavaskar was clear that India should not make any changes to their playing XI for the final. He strongly advocated for the continuation of India’s current strategy of fielding four spinners, which has proven to be highly effective in the conditions in Dubai. He pointed out that both Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav have been instrumental in India’s success, and their ability to take wickets while keeping the run rate in check has been a crucial factor in India’s dominance.
"I think it is going to be 4 spinners. It has to be. Why change now? It's shown Chakravarthy's inclusion, and Kuldeep's inclusion has shown how effective they can be. And also, wicket-taking balls are the best dot balls in limited-overs cricket or any format of the game. So they've been doing that, so there should be no change at all," Gavaskar asserted.
India’s opponents, New Zealand, have also had a strong tournament, reaching the final with a commanding victory over South Africa in the semi-final. The Kiwis are known for their resilience and tactical approach in big matches, making them a formidable opponent. However, India will take confidence from their 45-run win over New Zealand in the group stage, where the spinners played a pivotal role in choking the opposition’s batting lineup.
The highly anticipated final will take place on Sunday, March 9, in Dubai, where both teams will be eager to etch their names in history. India, looking to add another ICC trophy to their collection, will aim to fine-tune their performance and execute their plans with precision. On the other hand, New Zealand will be determined to learn from their mistakes in the group stage and put up a strong fight against the tournament favorites. With both sides showcasing exceptional skills and determination throughout the tournament, fans can expect an electrifying and closely contested finale that will be remembered for years to come.
