\u201cWe are chasing well. I think in the final, it's definitely the team that wins the toss. I presume they will bat first because chasing any total in a final will be a little bit of a concern. But now the Indian team is batting so well that I don't think toss matters a lot,\u201d said Rajput in an exclusive conversation with IANS from Dubai.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rajput, currently UAE\u2019s head coach, feels New Zealand are ahead of India as far as fielding is concerned. \u201cFielding is one of the things which both the teams have to really work on. But here, I would give the edge to New Zealand fielding because they are top class, especially Glenn Phillips and even Williamson, the catch he took in the last game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cGlenn Phillips, I think, his body is just like a rubber. He just dives, and then he takes some spectacular catches from the air. So, I would say that because of their fielding, they save 15-20 runs on the field and the catches. But our fielding is also very good. We have got brilliant fielders as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLook at Jadeja, Axar Patel, then Shreyas Iyer, Virat - don't forget about him because he is one of the best fielders still. So, fielding will be the key. As you said rightly, runs saved means we have to score that many fewer runs. So, fielding will play a very, very important role in the final as well,\u201d said Rajput.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This will be the second time that India and New Zealand will face off in a Champions Trophy final after the 2000 edition. New Zealand got the better of India in ICC knockout games \u2013 be it the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal or the 2021 World Test Championship final. Rajput also gave two reasons that give the Mitchell Santner-led side a formidable opposition in the title clash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe final will always be a good encounter because final matches are always nail-biting finishes. The only team that can give us a run for our money is New Zealand because they have been doing well in the ICC trophies against us as well. Recently, yes, we have beaten them in the league stage. But I think the final will be a different ball game altogether.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe factors which I always think are: A. They have played one game here. So, they know the conditions a little bit better than when they played the first game and B. in India, New Zealand have beaten us in the Test series.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, that was a different thing. But still, that confidence of beating India in India will always be on the back of the mind. So, I think those two factors will definitely give New Zealand a little bit of edge.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A win for India in the final will give them their first 50-over silverware after 2013 and set things in motion for emerging victorious in the 2027 ODI World Cup. \u201cEvery win is always a win so that we take it to the next level. Now, because they all are preparing for the 2027 World Cup, there are players who will be looking to play in that World Cup as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, that was a different thing. But still, that confidence of beating India in India will always be on the back of the mind. So, I think those two factors will definitely give New Zealand a little bit of edge.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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