🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India vs New Zealand, Final:9th March🏏 - Page 9

11:30 Local Time, 07:30 GMT, 13:00 IST: The year is 2000 and on an October morning at Nairobi, India are taking on New Zealand in the final off the ICC Knockout Trophy. India get off to a breezy start. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar are in great flow and by the halfway mark, India are looking at a total in excess of 300 - a bold and seldom breached total at that time. But New Zealand pull it back, or so it seems as India seize control once more. Defending 265, they have New Zealand down 135/5 after 25 overs but even before dusk closes in at the Gymkhana, Chris Cairns’ 102* sees New Zealand through to not just a win but also to their maiden ICC Trophy. Cut to 25 years later and these two sides are gearing up to face each other once more. It’s a different time in a different world, in fact, the very tournament they’re contesting for bears a different moniker but the essence and the emotion endures. The tenacity and grit that New Zealand displayed that night could well be the same virtues that set these teams apart tonight.

Thanks for the tag.

Hope India wins today 💙💙.

New Zealand cricket are riding a certain updraft at the moment. The Test side whitewashed India in India, the women won the T20 World Cup and then this team got the closest thing they could get to a headstart after they swept the tri-series in Pakistan in the lead-up to this tournament. They beat Pakistan and Bangladesh comfortably in the group-stage and their win over South Africa in the semi-final was nothing but clinical. Their batters have been in marvellous touch, their two spinners have held up their end of the bargain, Matt Henry (about who’s fitness we’ll know about soon) has spearheaded the pace-bowling attack to great effect and their fielding has been unmatched. The only point of discussion heading into the final then would be their loss to India in the group-stage.

What went wrong for New Zealand in that game is what’s gone right for India all along. Their spinners have been a cut above the rest and the addition of Varun Chakaravarthy, who was the architect of New Zealand’s downfall the other night, has turned a threatening triumvirate to a fearsome quartet. The feeling of relief and joy millions experienced upon Virat Kohli’s return to form was only compounded by the sense of redemption they felt after India beat Australia in the semi-final. A faultless run through the group-stage, where they beat Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand quite comfortably, followed by their win over Australia in the semi-final has meant India arrive into this final unbeaten.

India hold the advantage - so much was established when they soundly beat New Zealand in the group-stage. If New Zealand are to prevent that game from being a mere precursor to this final, their batters will need to demonstrate substantial fortifications to endure India’s spin siege. Undoubtedly, lots of midnight oil would’ve been burned to that end and it’ll come down to execution. The surface being used today is the same as the one that was used for the India-Pakistan clash. That was a fortnight ago and a typically slow and dry Dubai surface would’ve likely changed little. For India, it’s about repeating a process that’s worked so well for them one last time.

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All the best to both teams

Originally posted by: WildestDreams

Sandy: "Yesterday bought new 65 inch LED tv. Tested and ready to go. Let's win this. "

Is this you, Sandy?😂😂😂

No we bought water heater and AC for mom dad room though

Wow . Planning to buy a TV. This looks a sign it will happen . Hope it happens . That way I can have old TV for myself . As usual like my 15 year old laptop. Led TV also 10 year old play store not opening , hotstar also . I taught dad how use cast option . Now he is watching serials like that

11:50am: It's bright and the shadows are covering small patches around the perimeter of the playing field. The players are out practising. Will Young has a few gentle throwdowns. Ravindra's bowling with Herath overseeing, Gary Stead is with them, having a chat. Bracewell and Phillips roll their arms over. Latham nails an off drive, nice visuals from practice. For India, Rohit's walked out. Gill eyes the pitch, Santner walks up to him for a chat. As NZ's captain leaves, Gill practices a few drives from behind the ropes around the edge of the pitch.

I had a dream last night that India lost the match

Yeh sapna pura na ho bas yahi dua hai 🙏

Sanket: "Can NZ play Conway here in place Will young, as apart from that 100 Young hasn't been able to put runs and also he is very susceptible against spin especially on this kind of wicket against such a quality spin unit. Conway is an excellent player of spin so playing him here can be game changing move and you are changing and chopping at the top means there won't be any shuffle in batting line up"