The Champions Trophy 2025 final will see India and New Zealand lock horns at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9. Both teams have taken contrasting routes to the summit clash, but history suggests that this could be yet another classic Indo-Kiwi encounter.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, have dominated throughout the tournament, relying on their balanced attack, which features a four-pronged spin force and a dependable top order. They breezed past Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in the group stage before overcoming Australia in the semi-finals.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
New Zealand, always punching above their weight in ICC tournaments, have had to fight through a more challenging road. They lost to India in their final group game, after victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh booked them a spot in the semis. They then defeated South Africa in the semi-finals. New Zealand will be confident in their ability to break India’s dream of reclaiming the Champions Trophy after 12 years.
Can India overcome their knockout woes against New Zealand?
New Zealand have been a thorn in India’s side in ICC knockout matches. They lead the head-to-head record 3-1 in ICC knockouts, including wins in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final and the 2021 World Test Championship final. Despite India’s recent group-stage win over New Zealand by 44 runs, history suggests that the Kiwis thrive under high-pressure situations.
For India, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain key figures, but the team will also look towards Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to shoulder the batting responsibility. New Zealand, on the other hand, will bank on their all-round strength, with Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson pivotal in their semifinal triumph against South Africa.
India’s spin attack — featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy — has been their trump card throughout the tournament. However, New Zealand boasts an equally potent spin quartet of Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, making the battle of spin the defining factor in this final.
IND vs NZ Finals, Dubai Pitch Report
The Dubai International Stadium has provided low-scoring thrillers throughout the tournament, and the final will be played on the same surface that hosted India’s clash against Pakistan in the group stage. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has ensured a two-week rest period for all wickets, but the pitch is expected to be slow and gripping, favouring spinners.
India’s spin quartet could have the edge in these conditions, but New Zealand’s slower bowlers will also be a major threat. Expect a low-to-mid-scoring contest, with 270-280 being a competitive total.
Squads (from):
- India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy,
Mohammed Shami , Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana. - New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.
The match starts at 2:30 PM IST.
