Lagatar24 Desk
Dubai: As India and New Zealand gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday, cricket fans are set for an electrifying showdown. While India enter the final as favourites with a seven-match unbeaten streak in ODIs, New Zealand hold the upper hand in ICC finals, leading 3-1.
India and New Zealand already met once in this tournament, with India securing a 40-run victory in the group stage. Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup, showcasing India’s dominance in spin-friendly conditions.
Memorable India vs New Zealand ICC Knockout Clashes
2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy Final (Now Champions Trophy)
• Result: New Zealand won by 4 wickets
• Key Moment: Chris Cairns’ unbeaten century (102*) guided New Zealand to their first ICC white-ball title, breaking Indian hearts in a closely contested final.
2019 ODI World Cup Semi-final
• Result: New Zealand won by 18 runs
• Key Moment: India’s top order collapsed while Ravindra Jadeja (77) and MS Dhoni (50) fought back, but Matt Henry and Trent Boult ensured India’s exit from the tournament.
2021 ICC World Test Championship Final
• Result: New Zealand won by 8 wickets
• Key Moment: Kane Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47)** steered New Zealand to a historic Test Championship victory in a rain-affected match in Southampton.
2023 ODI World Cup Semi-final
• Result: India won by 70 runs
• Key Moment: Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli’s centuries, followed by Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul, helped India break their knockout curse against the Kiwis.
Historic Opportunity for India
A victory in Sunday’s final would not only give India their third Champions Trophy title, but also break a 25-year jinx of losing ICC finals to New Zealand. If successful, India would become the only team with three Champions Trophy wins, surpassing Australia.
Pitch & Strategy for the Final
The Dubai pitch has favored teams chasing in night matches, making the toss crucial. India’s formidable form and spin attack give them an edge, but New Zealand’s history of thriving in ICC knockouts makes this final an unpredictable battle.
