Former India head coach Ravi Shastri picked an all-rounder over other star players to get the Player of the Match award in Champions Trophy final. India cricket team have one last hurdle to get past before clinching yet another ICC trophy. The Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in the marquee clash at 2.30 PM on Sunday in Dubai.
Shastri picks CT 2025 winners, POTM & game-changers
Speaking to ICC Review, the former Indian cricketer picked Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel to win the Player of the Match award (POTM) from India in the Champions Trophy final. From the New Zealand camp, he picked the prolific Glenn Phillips to bag the top honours.
“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.
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Further, Shastri picked Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra to play crucial roles in steering their sides to victory. He said that once these batters get started, it was going to be tough to stop them. Further, he said that he won’t be surprised if both India and New Zealand make changes to their playing XI due to the pitch. Lastly, he said that if there was one side that could beat India, then it was New Zealand, adding that the Men in Blue will start as favourites but only just.
“If there’s one team that can beat India, it’s New Zealand,” Shastri said. “So India start as favourites but only just.”
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