India-Pakistan Pitch Overview for Champions Trophy Final | Cricbuzz.com

**Analysis of the India-Pakistan Pitch for the Champions Trophy Final**

Author: Vijay Tagore

*Last Updated: [Date]*

In a high-stakes encounter, India overpowered Pakistan by six wickets, successfully chasing down Pakistan’s target of 241 in the 43rd over. As the final of the ICC Champions Trophy approaches, all attention is drawn to the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium— the very surface used for the Group A match on February 23 between these arch-rivals.

Characteristically slow and offering substantial assistance to the spinners, this pitch is expected to align well with India’s strengths. During the previous match, Pakistan struggled against the Indian bowling attack, notably the spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja sharing five wickets. Though Varun Chakravarthy was absent from that fixture, his current form suggests he could prove formidable on this surface.

Historically, Dubai pitches have been more bowler-friendly. In the four games played here, the average first-innings score has been 246, with Australia’s 264 against India in the semifinal standing as the highest total. India succeeded in overcoming that score in the penultimate over, despite losing six wickets. Comparatively, the average score in Pakistan has been higher, at 295 across ten games.

Heading into Sunday’s title clash against New Zealand, the Indian team can draw confidence from their comprehensive spin arsenal featuring Chakravarthy, Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Axar. Notably, India is the only team throughout the tournament to have bowled out all their opponents in four matches.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium, boasting ten pitches curated by Matthew Sandery, generally offers similar playing conditions—favoring spin due to their inherently slow nature. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has utilized four of these pitches so far, and the final will revisit one at the stadium’s center. After a two-week rest period, the pitch should be prepared for optimum performance.

Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, emphasizes that the team has skillfully navigated pitch conditions. “Our batting approach has effectively neutralized the wicket’s variations. Although there are minor changes, the overall wicket nature remains unchanged. We’ve consistently delivered strong performances, supported by formidable starts and a resilient middle order,” Kotak stated, following the team’s preparations at the ICC Academy on Friday night.

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### Additional Context

– **Tags**: India, New Zealand, ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 Final
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