New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner conceded on Thursday that India's experience with the slow pitch at the DICS is a plus point, but asserted that his side is ready for a battle in the Champions Trophy final.
The Black Caps landed in Dubai on Thursday night before their title encounter against India on March 9 in the ICC gala tournament.
"They've played all their matches here in Dubai and know the conditions well. The surface will have an impact on our strategy—it may be a little slower than what we faced in Lahore. It may become a gritty contest, but we're prepared for that battle," Santner said upon arrival in the city.
Even with India's advantage, Santner feels New Zealand can take heart from their previous match in the group stage.
In that game, India won by 44 runs over New Zealand, albeit pretty much of a formality in Group A.
"We are against a big side, but I feel that our earlier match against them has conditioned us to better prepare. We've gathered some momentum and hopefully, it continues," he further said.
New Zealand's frantic travel itinerary—traveling back and forth from Pakistan to Dubai for their previous group game, semifinal, and now final—has been challenging, but according to Santner, the team has settled well.
"Traveling is a lot in this tournament, but that's all part of the challenge. I believe that we've played in nearly all the venues—between Pakistan and Dubai. The players know it's part of the game now. If we're prepared to face the game when it begins, we'll be okay," he explained.
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