'We will be better for the run against Varun' - Mitchell Santner on India's spin threat ahead of CT 2025 final

New Zealand is all set to face India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final; however, one name that has become a topic of discussion is mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. The Indian bowler, who has only played three ODIs, has already made an instant impact, particularly against New Zealand.

In their previous match, Chakravarthy ran through the Kiwi batting order, picking up his maiden five-wicket haul. Ahead of the summit clash, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes his side will be better prepared to handle the spin challenge.

Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul (5/42) dismantled the Kiwi middle order, while the other spinners, including Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, restricted the scoring rate in the middle overs. Santner himself was the victim of a delivery from Chakravarthy, which rattled his off stump.

With the Dubai pitch favouring spin throughout the tournament, New Zealand will need to find a way to counter India’s strong spin attack in the final. However, Santner is optimistic about his team's chances, who have now faced Chakravarthy.

"I think guys will be better for the run against Varun. He's obviously a world-class bowler we've seen it here and in the IPL. He's got that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him. I think they'll learn from the other day," Santner was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

We've got some good spin players, it's about them trying to just play: Santner

Furthermore, the New Zealand all-rounder mentioned that if the pitch behaves similarly to the previous game, batting against spin will be a major challenge. However, he stressed that his team has seen footage and analyzed ways to tackle India's spinners.

"If the pitch plays a similar way, it's going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners. I think the boys will be ready for tomorrow having looked at a little bit more footage. We know what his threats are now. That 115kph arm ball, that got me - that was a bit of a threat. I think the way Axar and Jadeja denied us for a long time, it might be something similar again on a slow wicket, where it's as if you can kind of just rotate and hit the odd bad ball away, you can get yourself up to a decent score," the 33-year-old further continued.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Final, India vs New Zealand - Stats & Records at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

The 2000 champions will rely on their experienced batters to come up with solutions. The southpaw believes that adopting an aggressive yet calculated approach, whether through sweeping, using the feet, or rotating the strike, will be important.

"We've got some good players of spin and it's about them trying to just play their games and whether it's to get your broom out and sweep, or it's to use your feet, I guess we kind of give our players the freedom to play their own way. On the flipside, it's the same with us. For us it's about trying to build pressure for a long period of time to produce a false shot," Santner concluded.