Title: India Must Watch Out for Santner, Rachin & Conway in Final: Rayudu
The stage is set for the highly anticipated final of the Champions Trophy 2025, with India and New Zealand gearing up to face each other in the ultimate showdown. As the two teams prepare for the big day, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has cautioned the team about three key players from the New Zealand squad who can cause trouble for the Men in Blue. In a recent interview, Rayudu highlighted the importance of Mitchell Santner’s spin, Rachin Ravindra’s top-order batting, and Devon Conway’s potential to cause an upset.
Rayudu, who retired from international cricket in 2021, has been keeping a close eye on the ongoing Champions Trophy and has identified Santner as a major threat for India. The 39-year-old left-arm spinner has been in exceptional form, taking 11 wickets in the tournament so far, including a five-wicket haul against England in the semi-final. Rayudu believes that Santner’s ability to extract turn and bounce from the middle overs can cause problems for India’s top-order batsmen.
“Santner is a quality spinner who can cause damage in the middle overs,” Rayudu said in an interview. “He has been bowling really well, and India needs to be prepared to face him. Santner’s ability to turn the ball and get it to bounce can be difficult for batsmen to handle, especially in the conditions in Dubai.”
Another player who Rayudu has warned about is Rachin Ravindra, who has been impressive with his batting at the top of the order. The 23-year-old opener has scored 220 runs in the tournament, including a century against Pakistan in the group stage. Rayudu believes that Ravindra’s aggressive style of batting can cause trouble for India’s bowlers, especially if he gets a good start.
“Ravindra is a very talented player who can be destructive if he gets going,” Rayudu said. “He has been playing well at the top of the order, and India needs to be prepared to face him. Ravindra’s ability to hit boundaries and rotate the strike can make it difficult for India’s bowlers to settle into a rhythm.”
The third player who Rayudu has identified as a potential threat is Devon Conway, who has been in excellent form with the bat. The 32-year-old opener has scored 340 runs in the tournament, including a century against Australia in the group stage. Rayudu believes that Conway’s ability to play both aggressively and defensively can make him a difficult opponent to face.
“Conway is a quality player who can play both ways,” Rayudu said. “He has been playing well, and India needs to be prepared to face him. Conway’s ability to rotate the strike and then accelerate when needed can make him a difficult opponent to face.”
Rayudu’s warnings about Santner, Ravindra, and Conway come at a time when India is looking to regain its dominance in international cricket. After a disappointing exit from the World Cup 2023, the Men in Blue have been rebuilding and restructuring their squad. However, a win in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand would be a huge boost for the team’s confidence and morale.
As the two teams head into the final, Rayudu’s warnings serve as a reminder that New Zealand is a formidable opponent that cannot be taken lightly. With Santner’s spin, Ravindra’s batting, and Conway’s all-round ability, India will need to be at its best to emerge victorious. The final will take place in Dubai on Sunday, and it promises to be an exciting encounter that will be closely watched by cricket fans around the world.
