Confident Kiwis ready to implement key learnings after last week’s loss to India

After claiming Player of the Match honours for his blistering semi-finals century, Rachin Ravindra revealed that his side would spend time reflecting, before traveling to Dubai and start ‘switching on’ for the Champions Trophy Final.

Well, that time has come.

New Zealand have now made it back to Dubai, having played India there less than a week ago.

The Black Caps fell short in that battle for top spot in Group A, but will undoubtedly be better for the experience. It’s all about how they bounce back from that loss and what they learned – how the pitch played, in comparison to the wickets in Pakistan, and which tactics worked.

Solving those riddles could well be the difference in Sunday’s tournament decider.

India claimed last week’s contest against the Kiwis by 44 runs, after posting 249 runs from their 50 overs and restricting New Zealand to 205 runs all out in the 46th over. While there’s been a lot of focus on spin bowlers stepping up in the UAE, it was Matt Henry that starred with the ball for the Black Caps, claiming 5/42 off eight overs, in an innings where Shreyas Iyer top scored for India with a 79 off 98 balls.

Kane Williamson fought valiantly for the Kiwis with an 81 (120 balls), but couldn’t find support in the middle order. India’s spinners combined for nine wickets, led by ‘secret weapon’ Varun Chakaravarthy, taking 5/42 - coincidentally the same figures as Henry for the Kiwis - in what was just the 33-year-old leg-spinner’s second One Day International.

But after New Zealand’s dominant semi-finals win over South Africa, Williamson declared his side will be more ready this time around – for the spinners and the conditions.

“For us, it was nice to have that last match against India,” he said after their semi.

“There's some really good bits there. India are an outstanding team and (are) playing really well. So, look, it's important we try and take away some learnings from that last game.

“The conditions are different, so it's important that we try and take away some of those positives and be nice and clear in how we're trying to operate come two or three days' time in the final."

There will be no complacency for the Black Caps heading into the decider, knowing full well how dangerous their opponents are. Particularly given India’s growing familiarity with the Dubai pitch.

“I suppose having played there on a number of occasions; there's real clarity in how they want to operate,” he continued.

“It's about the cricket that we want to play and take into account, obviously, the opposition, but be nice and smart come that Final. The location of that match, the opposition, they're all factors.

“(Last time) it was a great atmosphere last game and I'm sure it'll be a good one again.”