ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final: As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final approaches, the pitch conditions are a critical factor to consider.
The pitch for the ICC Champions Trophy final will be the same surface used during the Group A league match between India and Pakistan on February 23. Typically, such pitches are expected to be slow and sluggish, providing much support to spinners, which should favor the Indian team.
In that earlier encounter, Pakistan chose to bat first and struggled against the Indian bowlers. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja collectively took five wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy had yet to make his appearance. Although his effectiveness on this pitch remains uncertain, he is likely to enjoy bowling in these conditions.
Dubai pitches have favored bowlers more than batsmen
Historically, the Dubai pitches have favored bowlers more than batsmen. The average score across four matches played in Dubai is 246, with Australia posting the highest first-innings total of 264 in their semifinal against India. India successfully chased that target in the 49th over, losing six wickets. In contrast, the average score from ten matches played in Pakistan stands at 295.
With Chakravarthy in impressive form and Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Axar rounding out the spin attack, the Indian team should feel confident heading into their title clash against New Zealand. Notably, India is the only team in the tournament that has dismissed all their opponents.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) features ten pitches, all managed by Australian curator Matthew Sandery, and they share similar characteristics—slow with clear support for spinners.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has utilized four different pitches during the Champions Trophy, and for the final, one located at the center will be reused. Given that the last match on this pitch was over two weeks ago, it has had ample time to rest.
Indian batting lineup has effectively adapted to the nature of the wickets
Discussing the pitches at DICS, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that the Indian batting lineup has effectively adapted to the nature of the wickets. “In every match, the wicket changes slightly. As a batting coach, I assess our batsmen's ability to adapt. While the wicket does change a bit, its overall nature hasn't shifted much. However, the batting has been excellent. We’ve been fortunate to get solid starts, and when those were lacking, the middle order stepped up,” Kotak remarked before the Indian team's practice session at the ICC Academy on Friday night.
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