Kane williamson big statement: After New Zealand confirmed his clash with India in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, premiere batsman Kane Williamson said that Rohit Sharma -led team is a complete clarity about how to play at Dubai International Stadium, which is a place of title match on Sunday. New Zealand defeated South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore and booked a trip to Dubai for the second time in the competition on Sunday. The last time in the finals of India and New Zealand Champions Trophy, Nairobi clashed in 2000, where Blackcaps won.
‘I think there is real clarity about how they want to play after playing on many occasions there. Like our opportunity here, after playing at this place several times and I think it is an integral part in cricket. Williamson said at the end of the match at the Gaddafi Stadium, ‘Therefore it is not something that we are really keeping an eye on. It is about the cricket that we want to play and of course take into account the opposition, but should be good and sensible in the final.
Last week, New Zealand lost to India by 44 runs in Group A match in Dubai, in which Williamson scored a brilliant innings of 81 runs, which means that he is aware of the slow circumstances of the venue. ‘This is the same (because India plays all matches in Dubai). Our focus is the next match, the place of that match, the opposition, all these factors. Apparently, we played there with India once.
Williamson said, ‘Circumstances are different, so it is important that we try to remove those positive aspects and be good and clear about how we are trying to work in two or three days in the final. This is its nature and we are eagerly waiting for the final and are excited about it.
Against South Africa, Williamson scored 102 off 94 balls, which is his 15th century in this format, and he shared 164 runs off 154 balls for the second wicket with Rachin Ravindra, scoring 108 runs off 101 balls, scoring the top score, which is his fifth and second century in this format.
Batting with ‘(Ravindra) is always fantastic … incredibly special talent. When he was injured for some time, we lost him, but (he) took just a few weeks leave and is coming back and batting brilliantly. It is fantastic to see them. He lands on the field and gives priority to the team and plays with that freedom.
He concluded, ‘When we were batting together, there were moments when there were some good spells and it was a bit challenging. We tried to take inspiration from each other and keep each other focused on work.
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