New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has discussed their preparation for the Champions Trophy final against India at the DICS in Dubai on March 9.
The New Zealand team landed in Dubai on Thursday evening for the ICC showpiece’s title clash.
“They’ve played all their games here in Dubai and know that surface. Obviously, the surface will dictate a little bit of how we want to operate. It might be a little bit slower than what we got in Lahore. It might be more of a scrap, but we’re down to scrap,” Santner said upon arrival.
New Zealand can draw confidence from their previous encounter with India during the group stage matches.
India had secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand in their Group A match, though the result had no impact on tournament standings.
“We’ve come against a good side. I think we’ll be better for the run we had the other day against them. We’ve had a bit of a roll on. Hopefully, it continues,” he stated.
The New Zealand team has been traveling between Pakistan and Dubai for their recent matches, including their final group game, semifinal, and the upcoming final.
The left-arm spinner spoke about the team’s adaptation to their busy schedule.
“It’s just the general feel of this tournament, moving around a lot. It’s all part of the challenge. I think we’ve been to every place here. Obviously, in Pakistan and Dubai. I think the guys understand it’s part of it these days. As long as you’re ready to go for the game, it’s fine,” he explained.
