Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammad Kaif Recommends A Key Change In India’s Lineup For The New Zealand Clash

The Indian cricket team has been in sublime form in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, registering comprehensive victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan to comfortably secure a spot in the semi-finals from Group A. Their dominance so far has made them one of the most formidable sides in the tournament, with both their batting and bowling units firing in unison under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Now, as the group stage nears its conclusion, India is set to face New Zealand on March 2, a highly anticipated clash that will determine the table-topper of Group A. While the result will not impact either team’s semi-final qualification, the game holds significant importance for both sides. New Zealand has historically troubled India in ICC events, and this fixture presents an excellent opportunity for the Men in Blue to not only gain momentum ahead of the knockouts but also test their squad depth and tactical adaptability against a formidable opponent.

With cricket fans eagerly awaiting this showdown, one key debate surrounding India’s lineup has been the possible inclusion of Washington Sundar. Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has strongly advocated for this tactical move, citing New Zealand’s left-handed heavy batting lineup.

India’s Unbeaten Run in the Champions Trophy 2025

India has made a powerful statement in the tournament, winning both their opening matches with clinical performances:

Match 1: India vs Bangladesh – A Commanding Start

India began their campaign with a dominant win over Bangladesh, where their bowlers set the tone early, restricting the opposition to a below-par total. The pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj led the attack, while Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin played a crucial role in dismantling the middle order.

With the bat, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made light work of the chase, guiding India to an easy victory and setting the momentum for the tournament.

Match 2: India vs Pakistan – A Statement Victory

In one of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the tournament, India once again outclassed their arch-rivals Pakistan with an all-round performance. The spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav choked Pakistan’s batting lineup, preventing them from building any momentum.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul then ensured a comfortable chase, maintaining India’s unbeaten run and reinforcing their credentials as one of the tournament favorites.

India vs New Zealand: A High-Stakes Encounter Despite Semi-Final Qualification

Although both teams have already secured their semi-final spots, this match remains critical for several reasons:

Battle for Group A Supremacy – The winner of this match will finish as the table-topper, which could lead to a more favorable semi-final draw.
Building Momentum for the Knockouts – Winning this match will give psychological confidence heading into the semi-finals.
Testing Squad Depth and Tactical Adjustments – India might use this game to experiment with their lineup, especially considering that New Zealand could be their final opponent.
Psychological Edge Over a Possible Final Opponent – If India and New Zealand meet again in the final, a win here would provide an advantage.

One of the most interesting talking points ahead of this match is the potential inclusion of off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar, a move strongly suggested by former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif.

Mohammad Kaif’s Tactical Suggestion: Should India Include Washington Sundar?

Ahead of this encounter, Mohammad Kaif has suggested that India should consider including Washington Sundar in their playing XI. His reasoning is clear—New Zealand’s batting lineup is packed with left-handers, making an off-spinner like Sundar a valuable weapon against them.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kaif explained:

“It’s not a bad idea to play Washington Sundar against a NZ side full of lefties – Conway, Rachin, Latham, Bracewell, Santner. They could well be our final opponent. So worth testing them against Washington.”

Kaif’s logic makes sense, as New Zealand’s key batters include several left-handers:

Devon Conway
Rachin Ravindra
Tom Latham
Michael Bracewell
Mitchell Santner

India has been relying on left-arm spinners (Jadeja, Axar) and a wrist-spinner (Kuldeep), so introducing an off-spinner like Sundar could add variety to the bowling attack.

Should India Include Washington Sundar? Pros and Cons

Arguments in Favor of Sundar’s Inclusion:

Effective Against Left-Handers – Sundar’s off-spin is known for troubling left-handed batters, which could work in India’s favor.
Provides Bowling Depth – An extra spinning option gives Rohit Sharma more flexibility in the middle overs.
Adds Batting Depth – Sundar is also a handy lower-order batsman who can contribute quick runs if needed.
Test Before a Potential Final – If India faces New Zealand in the final, it’s better to test Sundar now rather than make last-minute changes.

Arguments Against His Inclusion:

India’s Spin Trio Has Been Exceptional – Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep have performed brilliantly, making it difficult to drop one of them.
Limited Recent Game Time – Sundar has played only one ODI in India’s recent series against England, where he bowled 5 overs for 43 runs and scored 14 off 14 balls.

If the team management wants to experiment with Sundar, resting Axar Patel could be the most logical move.

India’s Likely Playing XI vs New Zealand

India is unlikely to make drastic changes, but they could experiment by bringing in Washington Sundar in place of Axar Patel.

Possible Playing XI (Without Sundar):

Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Harshit Rana
Mohammed Shami

Possible Playing XI (With Sundar’s Inclusion):

Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (wk)
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Kuldeep Yadav
Harshit Rana
Mohammed Shami

Final Thoughts: A High-Stakes Encounter on March 2

Even though India vs New Zealand is technically a dead rubber in terms of qualification, it is anything but meaningless. The match will determine the Group A table-topper, test India’s tactical flexibility, and set the tone for the semi-finals.

With New Zealand having a history of troubling India in ICC events, this game presents the perfect opportunity for India to assert dominance and gain an upper hand before the knockouts. If Washington Sundar is given a chance, it will be interesting to see how he performs against the Blackcaps’ left-handed-heavy lineup.

Will India continue their dominant run, or will New Zealand prove to be their ICC nemesis once again? Fans can expect a thrilling contest when these two cricketing giants collide on March 2 in the Champions Trophy 2025.

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