The scene is ready for the 2025 Champions Trophy final. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9, India will play New Zealand in what promises to be an exciting match. Both teams placed first and second in Group A, and India won their league match by a margin of 44 runs.
The Kiwis’ tournament has been outstanding, but India’s march to the final has been even more impressive. In addition to losing to India, they won the group stages against Bangladesh and Pakistan by 60 runs and five wickets, respectively. Their victory over the Proteas by 50 runs in their semi-final match was also an outstanding performance, earning them a spot in the final.
On that day, there are some people who could ruin India’s celebration. Given his recent run-scoring performance, Rachin Ravindra is one of the guys who might come back to haunt India while he was in the middle. In terms of bowling, Mitchell Santner’s ten overs of left-arm spin might be the difference-maker for New Zealand.
Let’s analyse, ‘What if India lose Champions Trophy final vs NZ’
1. Consequences on team morale and future strategies
The team morale might potentially sink to an all-time low following a loss in the summit clash. One of the core reasons behind this would definitely be the high wave they were riding throughout the tournament. This would further impact the mentality and approach of the team going forward. The team might contemplate re-considering the full-throttle approach they were employing up until now.
2. Players’ roles and how a loss might affect their careers and future selections
The defeat might influence quite a few players’ future roles in the ODI side. With the 50-over format already taking a backseat as far as bilateral series is concerned, the selection committee would clearly be on the lookout for players who would perform in crunch situations in future tournaments. Players having poor outings in the upcoming final may cast an unfavourable perception for the respective individuals.
3. Include hypothetical stats and what could have been done differently during the final
The majority of the group of Indian cricket fans and the media have always been reactionary, and more so during losses. There would understandably be a lot of opinions posted online. It would also not be surprising to witness a barrage of hate directed towards the team and its players after the loss.
4. How fans and the media might react to such a loss
The media would likely magnify the situation by conducting fan interviews and podcasts regarding India’s poor performance to enhance their TRP.
5. Considering broader impact on Indian cricket and possible changes in team management
In conclusion, the loss to New Zealand may lead to broader ramifications on Indian cricket. From there being major chopping and changing to the white-ball roster to negativity spreading in the dressing room due to constant criticism, Indian cricket would likely go through a phase to forget.
The Board of Control of Cricket in India may raise some severe concerns over player selection. There may be high expectations for young players and newcomers making their debuts, and even the rarest of bad performances by up-and-coming talents could lead to those individuals being scrutinised.
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