India must watch out for Santner, Rachin & Conway in final: Rayudu
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final is just around the corner, with India set to take on New Zealand in a highly anticipated clash in Dubai on Sunday. As the Indian team prepares to face off against the Kiwis, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has sounded a warning to his country’s fans, identifying three New Zealand players who could pose a significant threat to India’s chances of lifting the trophy.
While speaking to Sportskeeda, Rayudu highlighted the importance of Mitchell Santner’s spin bowling in the middle overs, Rachin Ravindra’s aggressive batting at the top of the order, and Devon Conway’s potential to be a “dark horse” for New Zealand. According to Rayudu, these three players could be the deciding factors in the final, and India would do well to “watch out” for them.
“Santner is a very underrated bowler,” Rayudu said. “He’s got a lot of experience and has been bowling well in the middle overs. He’s someone who can trouble our batsmen, especially in conditions that are similar to what we have in India. We need to be careful with him.”
Rayudu’s warning about Santner’s spin bowling is not unfounded. The New Zealand all-rounder has been in excellent form in recent times, taking 14 wickets in the ongoing series against India at an average of 22.14. His ability to extract turn and bounce from the wicket has made him a formidable opponent for Indian batsmen, and Rayudu believes that Santner could be a key player in the final.
At the other end of the spectrum, Rayudu highlighted Rachin Ravindra’s potential to be a game-changer for New Zealand. The 23-year-old opener has been in prolific form, scoring 206 runs in the series at an average of 41.20. Rayudu believes that Ravindra’s aggressive style of play could be a threat to India’s bowling attack.
“Ravindra is a very explosive player,” Rayudu said. “He’s someone who can take the game away from you quickly if he gets going. We need to be careful with him and not let him get settled early on.”
But it’s Devon Conway who Rayudu believes could be the “dark horse” for New Zealand in the final. The 30-year-old opener has been in excellent form, scoring 344 runs in the series at an average of 51.00. Rayudu believes that Conway’s ability to play both pace and spin with ease makes him a potentially dangerous opponent for India.
“Conway is a very solid player,” Rayudu said. “He’s someone who can play both pace and spin well, and he’s got a lot of experience. He could be a real dark horse for New Zealand, and we need to be careful not to underestimate him.”
While Rayudu’s warnings about Santner, Ravindra, and Conway are certainly food for thought for the Indian team, it’s worth noting that India has a strong squad of its own. The team has been in excellent form in recent times, with players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge.
Still, Rayudu’s warnings serve as a reminder that India cannot take New Zealand lightly. The Kiwis have a strong team of their own, and with players like Santner, Ravindra, and Conway in their ranks, they could pose a significant threat to India’s chances of lifting the trophy.
As the final approaches, fans of both teams will be eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling encounter. With India’s strong squad and New Zealand’s ability to spring surprises, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final is shaping up to be a real clash of the titans. Will India be able to overcome the challenges posed by Santner, Ravindra, and Conway, or will New Zealand pull off a major upset? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – this final promises to be an absolute cracker!
