New Zealand went down to India by four wickets in the title-decider in Dubai on Sunday, suffering a fourth loss in four short-format global finals over the last decade.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Before a final, it’s natural for teams to look for positive omens, something to boost the confidence of the players before they step onto the field to vie for the trophy.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner could not confirm that pace spearhead Matt Henry will be available for Sunday's Champions Trophy final but was confident they can tame India's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on Thursday said a slower pitch in familiar territory for India in Dubai will make for a tight contest in the Champions Trophy final.
"I think they've always had the spin department covered, but now they've got some very good quick bowlers coming through."
Indian media feared on Sunday that the cricketing powerhouse's first home Test series defeat in 12 years might herald the end of a golden era of players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Captain Mitchell Santner vowed Tuesday that his "underdogs" New Zealand will put up a "fight" in their three-match Twenty20 home series against a full-strength Australia.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said it was "very important" his team avoided a whitewash series loss to New Zealand after winning the fifth and final Twenty20 International by 42 runs on Sunday.
Mitchell Santner, who has led both the New Zealand white-ball sides in the past, will be captain in Williamson's absence against Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh side.
New Zealand faced the music on a rank turner in Mirpur as they struggled on 55 for five at stumps, in reply to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 172 on Day 1 of the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old left-arm spinner has claimed 12 wickets in five matches so far to be one behind Adam Zampa of Australia.
Mild-mannered Mitch Santner rarely hogs the limelight in the New Zealand team but the all-rounder has made a big noise at the World Cup, taking a screamer of a catch against Afghanistan and a milestone 100th ODI wicket.
