A dominant India take on resilient New Zealand in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday with both teams having to settle a few old scores.
The Men in Blue and the Black Caps are the only two teams standing from the eight that started the event and now will be hoping to regain the title. India hopes to win their third title in the Champions Trophy and be crowned as the most successful team. New Zealand on the other hand will be aiming to add a second title to the one they bagged in 2000.
The two sides recently met in the last match in Group A in the Dubai International Stadium with India winning by 44 runs, riding on a superb 5-42 by Varun Chakravarthy. Rohit Sharma's India then went on to defeat the reigning ODI World Champion Australia in the semifinal by four wickets to advance to the title encounter.
New Zealand started their CT2025 campaign with a win over defending champions and hosts Pakistan in Karachi, followed it up with a win against Bangladesh before suffering a loss against India in Dubai. Then they made an air dash to Pakistan for the semifinal in which they overcame South Africa by 50 runs to set up a summit clash against India.
India are undefeated in the Champions Trophy 2025 while New Zealand's lone setback came against the Men in Blue. The Black Caps are now thirsting for revenge.
But they face a tough challenge against an Indian team that is supremely confident, rich in talent, and well-balanced packed with all-rounders as the selectors went with horses for courses policy.
Though Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who has scored 157 runs in four innings including a hundred, have not been able to consistently provide them big starts, players like Virat Kohli -- the highest scorer for India with 217 in four innings including a hundred, Shreyas Iyer (195 in 4), K.L Rahul, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya have stood tall for them, making vital contributions with the bat.
Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakravarthy have claimed a fifer each while Kuldeep Yadav, Axar, and Ravindra Jadeja have bowled consistently well to trouble the opponent's batting line-up. They have not depended on one team but rather have had different people putting their hands up in different matches.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak says the team has shaped well despite the batters playing to their individual plans. They are not thinking about the surface and rather doing their own stuff for the team's cause.
Our batters, to be very honest, can adjust on any surface. We will take it stage by stage. Like in the power-play, Rohit has his own plan. Shubman plays with his own plan. And they all, more or less, play to their plan. The good thing is everybody is playing to the team plan and doing things for the team selflessly. So, that is the key. I think wicket, we can adjust.
If it is 350 wickets, guys go a little hard with obviously, pace on the wicket, and ball coming on. In this kind of a wicket, you try and rotate the strike well. You try and take the game deep. And then, try and finish the game if you are chasing or try and set the bigger possible target, if possible. So, I think we have done that pretty well.
The Indians feel their bowling is more or less sorted though skipper Rohit Sharma said they will take a call on playing four spinners after looking at the wicket.
New Zealand too have had a similar type of performance in the event so far with their top and middle order doing well. Rachin Ravindra has blasted two centuries in three innings while Kane Williamson has scored a century. Will Young, Glenn Pillips, and Tom Latham have all made vital contributions.
Matt Henry has led their bowling efforts with 10 wickets at 16.70 while skipper Mitchell Santner has been their best spinner with 7 wickets. They have had Michael Bracewell, Ravindra, Phillips, Will O’Rourke, and Daryl Mitchell among wickets.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead is hoping that both Ravindra and Williamson continue in the same form.
Kane is one of those unique individuals, I think around the world, that has that ability to adapt to different surfaces and he seems to be able to do that faster than the many other players. So look, fingers crossed from our perspective that Kane has a big day. He's a special player for us. And we're thankful to have him in our squad.
Look, Rachin had that nasty blow in his head in Lahore when we played there, but he's come back and shown his class. We're very lucky to have him on our side. He is one of those batsmen who seems to be able to score at a run-a-ball without particularly trying that hard. And I think coupled with that, his ability to bowl some left-arm spin as well, then look, he's a really important player in our team. I know he's really looking forward to what's ahead that's coming up on Sunday..
India have dominated recent head-to-head having won their last five ODI matches. But New Zealand has had an upper hand in IC knockout matches with a 3-1 edge in four matches.
These encounters include the 2000 Champions Trophy final, the 2019 and 2023 World Cup semifinals, and the 2021 World Test Championship final. India’s only success came in their most recent meeting, the 2023 World Cup semifinal.
Overall, in 119 matches played so far, India have won 61 while New Zealand claimed victories in 50. One match has resulted in a tie while seven games produced no result.
On Sunday, the two sides will not only be playing for the coveted trophy and hefty prize money but also for setting scores in their rivalry. It may not be India-Pakistan or India-Australia for that matter, but the clash between the Men in Blue and the Black Caps is nothing short of a needle match for both sides. None wants to lose it, especially in the mini-world cup final.
Squads: India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant.
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke, Nathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy.
Where to Watch India vs New Zealand 2025 ICC Champions Trophy: Live Stream, Odds, and Match Details
Varun Chakravarthy a Big Threat in Champions Trophy final: New Zealand coach Gary Stead
EXCLUSIVE | Breaking Barriers: How Women’s Football is Changing the Lives of Saudi Girls
EXCLUSIVE | I Want My Boys to Play for India, says Vidarbha Coach Usman Ghani
"We Just Needed One Wicket": Mumbai Indians Overpower UP Warriorz with Six-Wicket Win
EXCLUSIVE | Rohit-Virat Duopoly: Propelling India to Greater Heights in the Twilight of their Career
EXCLUSIVE | Kohli is a Great Batter, a Greater Human Being, Praises Pakistan Spinner Abrar
Ravindra, Williamson Hit Hundreds as New Zealand set up Champions Trophy final with India
PREVIEW: Big Currie Cup Carrot Dangling For SA Cup Contenders
Australia's Steve Smith Retires from ODIs after Champions Trophy Defeat
