Champions Trophy 2025: India vs New Zealand, Match 12 - Top 3 player battles to watch out for
India and New Zealand will lock horns in the final league game of the Champions Trophy 2025.
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1. Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Santner
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Star Indian batter Virat Kohli’s struggle against spin has been a growing concern, as seen in the side's Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh. The 36-year-old managed just 22 off 38 balls, facing 10 dot balls against spin before falling to leg spinner Rishad Hossain. His inability to rotate strike frustrated him, a repeated issue in recent times, especially during the ODI series against England, where Adil Rashid dismissed him twice.
Kohli’s challenge will be tough against New Zealand, with Mitchell Santner leading the spin attack. The left-arm spinner has dismissed Kohli thrice in ODIs and even got his wicket twice in a single Test match in Pune in 2024. With the Dubai pitches helping spinners, Santner’s variations and control could trouble the veteran batter once again. The Delhi-born will need to adapt quickly to avoid getting stuck, especially with the left-armer's ability to slow the pace and create angles in the middle overs.
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