'Ye bhul jana chahiye ki India...' - Shoaib Akhtar's bold advice to New Zealand ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 finals against India

Pakistan's former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar gave bold advice for New Zealand ahead of their clash against India in the finals of the Champions Trophy 2025. The former pacer urged the Kiwis to forget that they were playing against India and that they were the favorites. They should remain motivated throughout the game to defeat India in the finals. 

"Ye bhul jana chaie ki India samne hai, ye bhul jana chahie ki aap lesser team hai. (It should be forgotten that you are up against India, you should forget that you are the underdogs). You should forget that you are not good. Santner has that belief. I have seen it in him. As a captain, he wants to win the title," said Shoaib Akhtar on 'Game on Hai.'

New Zealand and India will play their second finals in the Champions Trophy history. Earlier in 2000, the Kiwis beat India and won their maiden title. The game will be super exciting to watch because both teams have a terrific batting lineup. However, the bowlers are the ones who might change the course of the game. It will also be interesting to see the pitch conditions in the finals at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai. 

I would say 70-30 for India: Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar mentioned that the odds are in favor of India because of their batting and the kind of spinners they have. However, New Zealand can still win the game if they give their 100 percent. They, too, have a good team, and the batters are in red-hot form. While they might not get a 350+ pitch in Dubai, scoring anything above 280 is a par score. 

"If you ask me about odds, I would say 70-30 for India. When it comes to batting, their spinners, and their maturity, but if New Zealand can bring their A-game on that day (they can win)," added Akhtar.