Gary Stead complains about New Zealand’s exhausting travel schedule as India enjoy luxury

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead admitted that the team faced the challenges of constant travel ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India. Stead revealed that traveling from Lahore to Dubai took a toll on the players, but his team would not be concerned about the venue change.

New Zealand are set to face India in the ICC Champions Trophy final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9. This clash is a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand emerged victorious. The Men in Blue will be hoping to defeat the Blackcaps to secure the title.

New Zealand Are the Most Traveled Team in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand are the most traveled team in the tournament, as they covered approximately 7,150 kilometers. They started their campaign in Karachi and then traveled to Rawalpindi. The Blackcaps then flew to Dubai for their final group-stage game before returning to Lahore for the semi-final match.

On the other hand, India have remained in Dubai throughout the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, unlike other teams that had to travel between Pakistan and the UAE for their matches. The Men in Blue did not play any games in Pakistan due to security concerns, with all their fixtures scheduled in Dubai.

We Had a Full Day of Travel Yesterday - Gary Stead

Gary Stead said that the Blackcaps do not require extensive training before the final. He said that the focus now is on recovery, planning, and mental preparation rather than intense practice.

“There's no doubt that coming here after Lahore - we had a full day of travel yesterday - takes it out of you a little bit. But we've got a couple of days now, a little bit of recovery and a little bit of planning and training towards the game,” Gary Stead told ESPNcricinfo.

“But I guess we're deep into the tournament now and sometimes it's not always a lot of training that you need. It's just getting your body and your mind right to compete in the final. That will be our key focus over the next two days,” he added.

We're Lucky Enough to Have Had One Here Against Them - Gary Stead

Gary Stead said that they have experience of facing India in Dubai during their group-stage clash. He admitted that his team did not perform at their best, but the experience could prove beneficial in the final. Stead also dismissed discussions about India playing all their matches in Dubai.

“We're lucky enough to have had one here against them. It was a good match, without us quite putting our best foot forward as well. Wherever you play, you just have to go up and be able to be better than them on the day, and that's our focus," Stead said in the same interaction.

“They're not decisions that come across my desk anyway. For us, it's something that we can't control, so it's really just getting on with it. Yes, India have played their four matches here. “

India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in the group-stage clash in the Champions Trophy. The Rohit Sharma-led side successfully defended a target of 250, as the Blackcaps were bowled out for 205 in the chase. India are expected to pick four spinners, considering the match will be played on a used surface.

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