Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final, fervent supporters of the Indian cricket team in Kanpur and Varanasi held special prayers and rituals, seeking divine blessings for India’s triumph against New Zealand in the highly anticipated clash.
In Kanpur, devotees gathered at the Radha Madhav Temple, where a ‘havan’ was conducted in honour of the team. Images of Indian cricketing stalwarts, including captain Rohit Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Virat Kohli, were placed alongside an Indian flag. As part of the ritual, a bat, cricket helmet, and gloves were positioned before the sacred fire.
Suyash Gupta, an ardent supporter, expressed confidence in India’s chances, stating, "India does not need any introduction when it comes to cricket. We will definitely win... We hope the team heals our wounds from the 2019 semi-finals."
Echoing a similar sentiment, Ashish Gupta remarked, "India is the best team at present, but New Zealand is also performing well... With Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul, we have the best batsmen."
In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, members of the transgender community gathered to perform a 'havan' (sacred fire ritual) seeking divine blessings for Team India's victory ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand.
Chanting Vedic hymns and offering prayers, they expressed their unwavering support for the national team, believing that spiritual intervention would strengthen India's chances of triumph.
The community, known for its deep-rooted faith in traditional rituals, emphasised that their prayers were a gesture of love and encouragement for the players as they prepared for the crucial showdown.
Meanwhile, in Varanasi, cricket enthusiasts congregated at the Sarang Nath Mahadev temple to perform an ‘aarti’ and pray for India’s victory.
Fans, optimistic about the team’s strength, highlighted India’s balanced squad and formidable spin attack.
Cricket coach Saif Ahmed remarked, "I strongly believe that today, India will emerge as the Champions Trophy winners. Our biggest strength in this final is our spin attack. The team is playing with four world-class spinners, which gives us a significant advantage. Considering the team's overall balance and performance, the trophy is coming home, finally ending our 25-year-long wait."
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy Final: India ready for NZ challenge
Another coach pointed to the competitive nature of the encounter, stating, "The match between India and New Zealand is going to be a thrilling one. The team is aware of its strengths and weaknesses. Their fielding is excellent--Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips are capable of taking great catches. If Virat Kohli plays his best shots, very few would be able to make those catches. We have world-class bowlers and batters. We will win this ICC match by a good margin."
India and New Zealand will lock horns in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium later today.
The contest revives memories of the 2000 Champions Trophy final in Nairobi, where Chris Cairns’ unbeaten century led New Zealand to victory over India’s 265-run target.
Since then, both teams have evolved significantly in international cricket. India shared the 2002 title with Sri Lanka and secured the 2013 trophy under the leadership of MS Dhoni.
The Kiwis, however, have repeatedly fallen short in ICC tournaments and now stand just one victory away from breaking their drought.
India’s campaign has been nothing short of dominant, having won all their matches in Dubai. Topping Group A, they secured a crucial win over New Zealand in the group stage before easing into the knockouts.
With a well-rounded squad featuring quality batsmen, aggressive finishers, a strong pace attack, and a versatile spin department, India appears poised for success.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s campaign has been equally commendable. Barring their group-stage defeat to India, the Kiwis have shown great form, including a statement victory over South Africa in the semi-finals.
Having already played against India on the same Dubai wicket, they hope to make strategic adjustments for a better outcome in the final.
The pitch at Dubai International Stadium, according to analysts, is expected to assist bowlers, particularly spinners.
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