The highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 final is set to take place on Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This thrilling clash will see India take on New Zealand in what promises to be an intense showdown between two teams with a history of memorable ICC encounters.
India has remained unbeaten so far in the tournament, including a massive victory over one of their biggest rivals, Australia, in the semifinals. However, they face another tough challenge in the form of New Zealand, a team that defeated India in the 2019 ODI World Cup knockout stages. Interestingly, India has only defeated the Black Caps in one ICC knockout match to date.
Pitch Report:The Dubai pitch has longer boundaries and a slower surface, making it tough for batters to score freely. While India has managed to chase down totals in the past, the Dubai ground still presents challenges for teams. Given the unpredictable nature of the wicket, the captain winning the toss might opt to bat first and post a challenging total to put pressure on the chasing team.
Head-to-Head Record:- Total Matches Played: 119
- India Wins: 61
- New Zealand Wins: 50
- Tied Matches: 1
- No Result: 7
- First-ever Encounter: June 14, 1975
- Most Recent Encounter: March 2, 2025
Predicted Playing XIs:India:- Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand:- Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke.
Prediction:Both teams are in fantastic form and have been in thrilling contests throughout the tournament. India’s consistency and experience, especially in big ICC events, could give them an edge, particularly with their well-balanced squad and the form of their spinners. However, New Zealand’s disciplined approach, strong bowling attack, and key players like Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner could turn the tide in their favor.
While India’s batting depth and spin options might give them an advantage on the Dubai surface, New Zealand’s resilience in ICC events cannot be underestimated. It’s a tough call, but given India’s recent momentum and their dominance in the tournament so far, they might just edge out the Black Caps to lift the trophy.
