00:00Okay, 4-0 that is the scoreline of the Indian team in the Champions Trophy so far but come
00:06the final all of that goes out of the window it's one game and winner takes it all joining
00:12us live on our broadcast now our cricket analyst World Cup winner in Harbhajan Singh, Harbhajan
00:18not beating around the bush the first question straight up who's winning this final?
00:25Well I think India because India played well in these conditions they've been a very very
00:33good side they have done their homework batted well, bowled well and they looked at different
00:40team altogether you know when they played against Pakistan, New Zealand and now against
00:46Australia you know it looked like one side kind of a traffic so for me India is a favorite
00:53in this game.
00:55Okay India are favorites if I can you know pin you to pick a few factors if there are
01:01few factors in your mind that you think makes India the overwhelming favorites in this final
01:06match?
01:07India's spin in the middle makes them the favorite I think you know Varun Chakraborty
01:13inclusion of him against New Zealand taking those five wickets and against Australia also
01:19he bowled well you know India playing with four spinners on this track I think that's
01:25where they are beating most of these teams you know they are chalking those runs in the
01:30middle overs and taking wickets at the right time of the game so that's what is putting
01:36them ahead in this particular game as well because New Zealanders we have seen them earlier
01:43they were like 50 for two and then suddenly one 200 for sevens you know when Varun Chakraborty
01:49got his first five wicket haul so they have a good side but you know when it comes to
01:56play spin bowling and this quality of spin bowling on these condition it is going to
02:02be hard for New Zealanders to go out there to score you know those runs in the first
02:07inning and if they are chasing they'll be under tremendous pressure so that's why I
02:11feel India have a great chance to win this one okay you know there's been a big gap Arbhajan
02:16between India's semi-final now and then to the final and in this big gap I've been meeting
02:22a lot of Indian fans and you know the first question they asked me is like who's going
02:26to win and my answer is also obviously India but the one thing that they come back with
02:31is that you know you were saying the same thing on 19th November that was also 50 over
02:35contest this is also 50 over contest India were looking like the best team on that occasion
02:40also but then what happened in the final what would you tell those people that are
02:43doubtful because they saw it in the 50 over world cup that you were the best team but
02:48final you stumbled well I think they have learned from that part of course they made
02:56a mistake there by you know preparing such a track which was not suitable to their batting
03:02lineup and they had different bowling lineup at that point of a time if they had this kind
03:08of a bowling lineup at that time on that particular wicket things would have been different
03:13let me tell you because that pitch is closer to the this picture in Dubai you know this
03:19is a slow sluggish spinning friendly pitch where spinner comes into the game I think
03:25the lesson have been learned from from the last final and whether it's a 50 over format
03:32or 20 over format you know you just have to keep your nerves in control and then begin
03:37like this and back your instinct simple is that and you don't need to change anything
03:43when everything is going in your favor so I think India is favorite simply because the
03:49reason they played better cricket than the others and they look like one unit you know
03:53even though we have seen Rohit didn't score Shubman didn't score runs but then it was
04:00Kohli who stood up and took the responsibility on his shoulder to take the team through against
04:05Pakistan and and also against Australia so India have produced different heroes in different
04:12games Varun Chakravorty in bowling Shreyas Iyer he's been one of those unsung heroes
04:18you know he's his contribution is is brilliant big and Akshay Patel you know his work also
04:25goes without talking so India have got more match winners than the than the other teams
04:32I believe that's why I feel India need to play well simply just keep doing what they've
04:39been doing and if they do that right I'm sure there'll be a stronger team and winning team
04:44okay very interesting point you know Harbhajan talks here is that for India somebody or the
04:49other has been stepping up they have won four games in this tournament because sometime
04:53the top order sometime the middle order sometime the spinners and on occasion even fast bowler
04:58like Mohammed Shami has stepped up I have a tough question for you Bajupa and that is because
05:03you've taken names of so many Indian players who's been the man of the tournament so far for
05:08the Indian team you think well I think it'll be tough from from our point of view you know
05:17that the way we look at this game see Kohli is definitely one of the contender Varun Chakravorty
05:24is one of the contender and Shreyas Iyer is one of the contender I think out of these three you
05:31know anybody could get that you know so depends who performs well in the final on a big stage
05:37will be the best contender to win this one but so far these are the three contenders in my view
05:42you know who can win the man of the series or whatever golden bat or a ball okay plenty more
05:49to come with Harbhajan Singh we focused on the Indian team so far let's take a look at the
05:54opposition as well a closer look at that like India New Zealand have also played outstanding
06:01cricket to reach thus far especially their semi-final versus South Africa where they put
06:06on a match-winning total they've had one blip in this entire tournament that also came versus the
06:11Indian team to refresh your memory here is a look back at New Zealand's journey to the Champions
06:17trophy final. New Zealand opened their campaign with a comfortable 60-run win over Pakistan in
06:29Karachi. Tom Latham and Will Young glided their way to hundreds helping their team post a mammoth
06:37320. In the second inning New Zealand bowlers hunt in pairs and outplayed the host nation in
06:48what was the one-sided tournament opener. Another day another game and usual business for the New
07:02Zealand bowlers who rode on spinner Michael Bracewell's four-wicket haul to restrict Bangladesh
07:08236 in Rawalpindi. In response Rachan Ravindra came to the party as his 112-run knock confirmed
07:17New Zealand's place in the semi-finals and also knocked Bangladesh out of the competition.
07:22New Zealand's bowlers passed another stiff test with flying colors courtesy Matt Henry's
07:43fifer that kept India to 249 for 9 on a sluggish Dubai surface. In reply Kane Williamson waged a
07:54lone battle but it wasn't enough as Varun Chakravarty's maiden five-wicket fall confined
07:59New Zealand to a 44-run defeat. New Zealand batter shrugged off the loss against India
08:18with a mighty fine display against South Africa in Lahore. Batting first New Zealand posted a
08:23humongous 362 times 200 by Rachan Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Later their spinners delivered
08:32in unison to seal the deal in New Zealand's favor to set up a final date with India. Sports Bureau
08:39India today. Okay that is how New Zealand reached that final of the Champions Trophy. Harbhajan Singh
08:47still live with us. Harbhajan let's look at that one match that India played versus New Zealand.
08:52Do you think that will have any effect on this final? Will it give Indian team more confidence
08:58because they've beaten it or will it work the other way around where New Zealand will be more
09:03fired up because they've lost one game to India in this tournament? Well obviously you take those
09:08good memories into your account you know when you collect your thoughts. Okay what all have
09:14happened and what was the last game like and someone like Varun Chakravarty you know who
09:20delivered it at the right point of time you know he'll be thinking about how to bowl to these
09:26New Zealanders and he'll be feeling very confident about it you know how his day went off the other
09:31day but in cricket you can't guarantee you know if the same thing will be repeated again. There
09:38will be an advantage India I think in their mind they will be thinking that because they played a
09:45superb game against New Zealand they'll be confident. On the other side New Zealand will be
09:50thinking what are the things they need to improve to overcome India's challenges. So it works both
09:58way Nikhil to be honest whichever way you want to think as a batsman or a bowler or a team you
10:04know you take sometime inspiration from such stuff you know what has happened or sometimes the same
10:11things can bog you down. So both team will be looking things at differently but India I think
10:18will be will be more confident walking onto the field knowing that they have done well in this
10:24ground and they know these conditions better than the others and also they have got very good record
10:30against New Zealand. So on the other side New Zealand will be thinking how to tackle this Indian
10:35team and how to get a perfect kind of a game against against these Indians because the Indians
10:45are playing well. Whether we're talking about batting bowling and fielding unit you know the team
10:51looked like one. So when you play like one you more more number of time you win championships. So this is
10:57what we are talking about playing the final. You know it is all about handling the pressure and you
11:04know holding your nerves. So whoever handles it better they'll win and I'm sure it will be India.
11:11Okay interesting that we've spoken about most of the performers Arvajan in this tournament for India
11:16and why India is doing well. But one thing that you mentioned is that they're playing together as a
11:20team and whenever a team is a cohesive unit a lot of credit must go to the captain that is Rohit
11:26Sharma. I want your thoughts on the recent controversy involving Rohit Sharma where you had a
11:31Congress spokesperson come out and said that he's not a great captain. He's a very ordinary captain.
11:36He's not even fit. You've played with Rohit Sharma. You have covered him as an analyst. So give us some
11:43perspective on Rohit Sharma the player his fitness as well as Rohit Sharma the captain because that
11:48came under scrutiny. Well there are there'll be people they'll keep on talking about his fitness is whatever
11:56other skills captainship skill and whatsoever you know. But I just asked a very simple question
12:03to that lady who made this remark about Rohit Sharma's fitness whether she is part of any
12:09BCCI or any organization where you know she understand the rules and also the fitness and
12:15of course you know what are her own achievements when we when it comes to sports. So putting
12:22a finger towards anyone is very easy but that same time you know the thumb is facing towards
12:29you. So just check yourself too before you put a finger on someone who achieved a lot who played
12:36this game. You know it's it's very hard for people to actually understand how is it to be playing for
12:44India. And you know the kind of pressure a player goes through only that player knows you know he's
12:50got the responsibility to take the team forward but also you know as a player you need to perform.
12:56And you know people like you know normal people who just watch the game they love the game they
13:04they come up with so much so many opinion which is which is fine. They have their own right to
13:09you know have opinion about anyone but things should remain you know in their own circle not
13:15in public you know if you want to talk something like that. But that is something you know what
13:20they spoke but Rohit Sharma the guy I know is a very hard-working guy. He's a very selfless guy.
13:28He's someone who's a leader who lead from the front who put team always in front rather than
13:33you know himself. He's that kind of a guy and you know good to have a leader like him
13:40a player like him you know who put the team you know in front rather than you know putting himself
13:47in front. So for I respect those people you know who who respect the fact that the team comes first
13:54rather than you know I always say it's it's not about me it's about we how we can play together
14:02and win the cup. It's not just Rohit Sharma will be winning the cup it will be Team India winning the cup.
14:08So contribution from everyone's required. So you see the performance of Hardik Pandya, Akshay Patel
14:16and you know you name anyone everyone have performed in this tournament. So that's where it
14:22comes how they have played like we. So when you play like we you know the captain's
14:28responsibility is everyone is on one page. When we walk onto the field we are on one page just to do
14:36one thing right how to win this game and that I think Rohit Sharma must get credit for that
14:41for putting everyone together on the field on one page when with one mission to win the cup.
14:47Now the reason Harbhajan I asked that question is because you know at the end of the day
14:51everyone wants the Indian team to do well. One controversy was involving Rohit Sharma. We saw
14:57another controversy yesterday where there was some comments made about Mohammed Shami when he was
15:01having a drink on the sidelines saying that you know this is the time he should be keeping a
15:05Rosa. Why is he having a juice or maybe it must have been a sports drink that he was having.
15:11Does that put pressure on a player? Let's let's take Mohammed Shami as a case in point. Does it
15:14put pressure for him now he'll be playing a big final just on the eve of the final such comments
15:19are made? I think I just want to say that this is my personal view. I might be wrong or right.
15:28You know sports should be treated separately. You know people who feel that religion is playing
15:38this role or that role. I think it's fine to kind of do your routine what you do in your religion.
15:46That's fine but people to expect you know from Shami to do this or from Rohit Sharma to do this
15:52or from any XYZ to do this or that during a certain period you know which is you might be
16:00doing it because you're sitting at home or you're doing your own routine work but when you're
16:06playing as a sportsman okay you know if you don't keep yourself self-hydrate you're gonna collapse
16:14and of course you know the kind of sweat the kind of heat they are playing in you know and
16:21I think they need to drink water they need to go through they cannot go through to the game
16:27without having a water or having a snack or in between because it's a body overall you need a
16:32fuel so people who are commenting about it all I can say is that's their personal thing you know
16:38and Shami or others I don't think they'll be even okay worried or bothered about it.
16:44Okay we'll leave it at that. Thank you so much Harbhajan for taking our time speaking to us on
16:48India Today.
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