India and New Zealand, two cricketing powerhouses, are set to clash in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Stadium on March 9. Both teams have shown remarkable form throughout the tournament, promising fans an intense showdown reminiscent of their previous battles in ICC events.
Team India enters the final unbeaten, having demonstrated dominance with bat and ball in each match. In their opening fixture against Bangladesh, India displayed a comprehensive bowling performance led by Mohammed Shami, who claimed an impressive 5/53, restricting Bangladesh to 228. India’s chase was anchored by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 101*, supported by confident knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, guiding them to a comfortable six-wicket victory with 21 balls remaining.
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The much-anticipated clash with Pakistan saw India chase down a competitive target of 241, thanks primarily to a Virat Kohli masterclass. Kohli’s unbeaten century, supported by Shreyas Iyer’s critical 56 and Shubman Gill’s solid 46, enabled India to overcome their arch-rivals convincingly. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav had earlier restricted Pakistan by taking three key wickets.
India’s group-stage encounter against New Zealand posed a tougher challenge, with the Indian batting lineup initially under pressure. Despite the efforts of Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45), India managed 249/9. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy turned the match around dramatically, securing a remarkable five-wicket haul that bowled New Zealand out for just 205, confirming India’s top spot in Group A.
In the semi-final against Australia, India’s bowlers continued their consistent form, restricting their opponents to 264. Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja were instrumental, setting up a chase anchored again by Virat Kohli, whose composed 84 guided India home with ease. Supporting cameos from Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya allowed India to win comfortably with 11 balls to spare.
New Zealand, on the other hand, has shown resilience and explosive performances throughout their journey to the final. The Black Caps began their campaign strongly against Pakistan, posting a commanding 320/5 thanks to centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham. Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke shared six wickets, dismissing Pakistan for 260.
In their next game against Bangladesh, Michael Bracewell’s exceptional bowling (4/23) and Rachin Ravindra’s memorable century, supported by Latham’s half-century, saw New Zealand chase successfully despite early wickets falling. Glenn Phillips and Bracewell’s late partnership secured a comfortable five-wicket win, sealing their semi-final spot early.
However, in their key Group A clash against India, New Zealand faltered despite Matt Henry’s brilliant five-wicket spell that restricted India to 249. Kane Williamson’s half-century wasn’t enough, as New Zealand fell short by 44 runs. Despite the loss, this experience gave the Black Caps valuable exposure to the conditions in Dubai.
The semi-final presented a crucial test against South Africa, and New Zealand responded impressively. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson powered them to a massive 362/6 with blistering hundreds. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips also played aggressive innings. In response, South Africa struggled against the New Zealand spin trio of Santner, Ravindra, and Phillips, highlighting the depth of the Black Caps’ bowling resources.
Ahead of the final, New Zealand faces uncertainty regarding their leading wicket-taker, Matt Henry, who injured his shoulder during the semi-final. Despite bowling again after sustaining the injury, coach Gary Stead remains cautious, stating Henry’s participation remains uncertain. Jacob Duffy stands ready as a backup if Henry cannot play. Henry’s fitness is crucial, given his 10 wickets at an impressive average of 16.70, including a five-wicket haul against India earlier in the tournament, where he became New Zealand’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket, surpassing legendary Richard Hadlee.
India will rely heavily on Shreyas Iyer, who boasts an extraordinary record against New Zealand. Iyer has accumulated 563 runs in just eight ODI innings against the Kiwis, averaging over 70, including two centuries and four fifties. His remarkable 105-run innings during the Cricket World Cup semifinal at Mumbai remains one of the fastest centuries in World Cup knockout history. In this Champions Trophy, he is India’s second-highest run-scorer with 195 runs at an average of 48.75, highlighting his consistent form.
The ICC has announced a substantial prize fund for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with the winning team set to receive $2.24 million, while the runners-up will earn $1.12 million. Semi-finalists have already secured $560,000 each, and each group-stage win fetched teams over $34,000. The total prize pool of $6.9 million marks a significant increase from previous editions, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to enhancing the prestige of the tournament.
This final represents the second Champions Trophy title encounter between India and New Zealand, recalling the 2000 final where New Zealand emerged victorious. India aims not only to claim the title but also to avenge previous ICC losses to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
Analyzing both sides, India’s batting strength—featuring Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma—paired with disciplined bowling from Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel, positions them as slight favorites. However, New Zealand’s potent combination of experienced campaigners like Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and explosive talents like Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, along with a potent bowling attack, especially if Matt Henry recovers in time, makes them equally formidable.
Ultimately, the team managing pressure moments and adapting better to conditions in Dubai’s International Stadium is likely to emerge victorious. With both teams closely matched in all departments, cricket fans can expect a thrilling, high-intensity final showdown.
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