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

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

A Crucial Battle

India and New Zealand clash in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, with spin set to decide the game. India's spinners have dominated with 21 wickets, while New Zealand’s have claimed 17.

India will stick to their winning XI, while NZ await Matt Henry’s fitness update. Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson are key players, with Gill having a strong record against NZ. A fresh Dubai pitch favours batting first as conditions worsen.

India have excelled in ICC knockouts, but NZ have beaten them in four of the last eight tournaments. Virat Kohli needs 45 runs to surpass Chris Gayle’s Champions Trophy record, adding extra excitement to this high-stakes final.

Williamson, playing his sixth ICC final, remains NZ’s most experienced batter. His leadership and batting form could make all the difference.

Gill smashed a double century against NZ recently. His ability to anchor innings under pressure could be a game-changer!

With no dew in the night, the toss is unlikely to be a major factor although the New Zealand team management seems to be contemplating batting first, should they have the option, primarily to counter Varun Chakravarthy's spin.

For the Indian team, the toss won't be a key determinant - they would be comfortable setting a target or chasing one.

India are clearly the stronger side. But then, India have often been the better team in most face-offs with New Zealand in the ICC tournaments, yet they have ended up losing more often than winning in the global competitions.

India’s Spin Dominance Could Decide the Final

India’s spinners—Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja—have been ruthless, taking 21 wickets in the tournament, the most by any team.

New Zealand’s Spinners Are Not Far Behind

New Zealand’s spin attack has also impressed, scalping 17 wickets. If they click in Dubai, they could challenge India’s batting lineup.

Matt Henry’s Fitness a Major Concern

NZ pacer Matt Henry’s shoulder injury is a key talking point. His absence could weaken their attack against a strong Indian batting lineup.

Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill said he is ready to take "calculated risks" when the team is under pressure to realise a long-standing dream.

"It is about me being in my zone and taking calculated risks. I think that is the hallmark of my team and myself. I take risks at the point when I feel the team is under pressure. Most of my batting is instinctive and I don't pre-plan," Gill said on the eve of the final.

"Obviously, it is a big occasion and I will try my best and I will prepare myself accordingly. But the nature of cricket is such that no matter how much you try, you can't score 100 or 50 in every match," he added.

Team News:

India

With Hardik Pandya delivering with the new ball, India have gone into the recent matches with two pacers and four spinners, Varun Chakaravarhty, being the fourth spinner. That seems the right lineup for the conditions in Dubai and they may not tamper with the winning combination.

There may, however, be a temptation to rest Kuldeep Yadav, who was not too impressive in the last two matches, for a pacer - Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh. That said, Rohit is known to give a long rope to the proven match-winners.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakaravarthy.

New Zealand

Like India, the Black Caps too may opt for the XI that won them the semifinal which means Devon Conway will continue to remain on the bench. They too have four spinners like India - Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Philips and Rachin Ravindra - which means they have the right people for the conditions here.

There has been an injury cloud over Matt Henry who had a sore shoulder while fielding during the semifinal. He has been recovering well and should be available for selection but if there is a last-minute blip, Nathan Smith or Jacob Duffy will have to slot in.. There could be a temptation to pitch in Devon Conway, as it would be a better match up against India's two left-arm spinners, left-arm wrist spin and right-arm mystery spin. However, given the recent form and his exploits on the Test tour of India, Young should keep his spot.

Probable XI: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham(wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke, Matt Henry/Nathan Smith

Weather Report Of Dubai

The weather forecast for the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai predicts a clear and sunny day on match day. With no rain expected, weather conditions are unlikely to disrupt the India vs New Zealand clash. Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s during the first half of the game, gradually dropping to the mid-20s as the sun sets.

What to expect: A keen contest between teams of equal strength if not in star power. Toss may not be crucial but India will not mind batting first or second. Unlikely that it will be a high-scoring game

If the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand ends in a tie, a Super Over will take place to decide the winner. However, in the case of a tie in the Super Over, the teams will continue to play till to get a result!!

Just before the start of the Indian team's net session under lights at the ICC Academy in Dubai, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir were seen engrossed in a serious discussion. It's unlikely they were confabulating about a joint family vacation after the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. What then?

One can discern a few topics that could have dominated that midfield conclave ahead of the final against New Zealand. They may well be Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and above all Rachin Ravindra.

The last one first. The 25-year-old all-rounder has made phenomenal strides in world cricket of late, leaving one to wonder what he could achieve in the next decade. In just 18 months, he has scored five ODI centuries in the ICC events.

Big deal? Kane Williamson, the New Zealand great, has only managed two, and bigger names in New Zealand cricket have less. India must find a way to dismiss him early, like they did in the previous game, before he ascends to take control of the game. Coincidentally enough, he's coming off a brilliant century against South Africa in the semifinal. He was the player of that match.

Prize Money For Winner And Runner-Up

The winner of the Champions Trophy 2025 will get $2.24 million, or roughly Rs. 19.49 crore, while the runner-up will get $1.12 million, or around Rs. 9.74 crore.

New Zealand's Route To Final

1st Match: 60-run win over Pakistan in Karachi

2nd Match: Five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi

3rd Match: 44-run loss to India in Dubai

2nd Semi-Final: 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore

India's Route To Final

1st Match: Six-wicket win over Bangladesh in Dubai

2nd Match: Six-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai

3rd Match: 44-run win over New Zealand in Dubai

1st Semi-Final: Four-wicket win over Australia in Dubai

Highest Wicket Taker In India vs New Zealand ODIs

Former pacer Javagal Srinath has taken the most wickets in ODIs between India and New Zealand. He played a total of 30 ODI matches and picked up 51 wickets including two four-wicket hauls.

Highest Run Scorer In India vs New Zealand ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in ODIs between India and New Zealand. The legendary batter scored 1750 runs in 42 matches with an average of 46.05 and a strike rate of 95.36.

Head-To-Head Records in ODIs

India and New Zealand have played each other in many games in ODI cricket. Here's their head-to-head records in 50-over cricket:

Matches played: 119

India won: 61

New Zealand won: 50

No result: 7

Tied: 1

Semi Used Pitch For The Final?

The pitch for the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand has reportedly been finalized. With the title clash in Dubai just two days away, authorities have selected the strip that will be used on Sunday.

Ahead of the final, the ground staff watered the entire square and have now marked the center-wicket for the big game. Notably, the chosen pitch is the same one that hosted the high-profile India vs Pakistan group-stage match earlier in the tournament.

Head To Head In ICC Knockouts

As things stand, New Zealand holds a 3-1 lead over India in ICC knockout matches. It remains to be seen if India can turn the tide and claim victory in Dubai on March 9, 2025.

The sight of Henry could provide a chilling memory of that gloomy July morning in Manchester in 2019, when the pacer had ripped apart India's top order, transposing the gloom in the weather outside to inside the Indian dressing room. India must prevent him from making inroads, and wreaking havoc early, like he did that morning in Manchester and here in the league game last Sunday. Rohit and Shubman Gill need to counter him. There has been talk of an injury to him - will the Indian team be concerned? An easy guess.

Williamson, like old wine, is only getting better and better. With no burden of captaincy, he's playing with renewed freedom and confidence. He will pose a serious threat to the Indian bowlers on Sunday, and it will be important for India to dismiss him early, whether through pace or spin. Like Rachin, he too is coming off a century in the semifinal.

Another serious threat will be Mitchell Santner, the unassuming, under-the-radar captain, who can keep batsmen in check with his subtle control. Of particular interest will be his battle with Virat Kohli, who has shown some vulnerability against quality spin.

Another crucial factor in the game will be New Zealand's fielding, an area where every player excels. It will be a contest between India's batsmen and New Zealand's fielders, who are capable of pulling off miracles on the field with their preparation, athleticism, and anticipation. Few teams in world cricket can boast of such skills and win matches purely through their fielding. That could be a defining element in the final.

With no dew in the night, the toss is unlikely to be a major factor although the New Zealand team management seems to be contemplating batting first, should they have the option, primarily to counter Varun Chakravarthy's spin. For the Indian team, the toss won't be a key determinant - they would be comfortable setting a target or chasing one.

India are clearly the stronger side. But then, India have often been the better team in most face-offs with New Zealand in the ICC tournaments, yet they have ended up losing more often than winning in the global competitions.