New Zealand has won the toss and chosen to bat first against India in the highly anticipated final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. This marks the second meeting between the two teams in the tournament, with India having secured a convincing 44-run victory in the group stage. However, New Zealand holds a historical edge in ICC tournaments, having lost to India only once since 2003.
Playing XI:
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), Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Nathan Smith
Pitch Report:
The Dubai International Stadium pitch has favored spinners throughout the tournament, and the final is expected to follow suit. The match will be played on a ‘semi-fresh’ surface, previously used for the India vs Pakistan group-stage clash on February 23. In that game, Pakistan posted 241 in 49.4 overs, which India chased down with six wickets to spare. Spinners played a pivotal role, with Kuldeep Yadav taking 3/40, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja combined for five wickets. Given both teams’ strong spin attacks, their performance could be decisive in the final.
Teams winning the toss face a crucial decision. While 37 out of 62 ODIs at this venue have been won by teams bowling first, the spin-friendly conditions could make setting a competitive total equally effective. The average first-innings score at the venue is 219, with teams batting second averaging 193.
Weather Report:
Dubai will provide clear and sunny conditions for the final, with temperatures reaching up to 29°C. No rain is forecast, ensuring uninterrupted play. The warm weather may further dry the pitch, potentially enhancing conditions for spinners as the match progresses.
Head-to-Head:
This will be the second encounter between India and New Zealand in the tournament, with India winning the group-stage match by 44 runs. However, New Zealand holds the advantage in their only previous Champions Trophy knockout meeting, having defeated India by four wickets in the 2000 final. The two teams now face off again, with India aiming for its third Champions Trophy title and New Zealand seeking to replicate its 2000 success.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ODIs:
– Matches played: 119
– India won: 61
– New Zealand won: 50
– Tied: 1
– No result: 7
India vs New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy:
– Matches played: 2
– India won: 1
– New Zealand won: 1
– Last result: India won by 44 runs (Dubai; 2025)
India enters the final with a strong recent record against New Zealand, having won the last five ODI encounters. However, with the trophy on the line, New Zealand will look to defy history and claim its second Champions Trophy title. The stage is set for an intense battle between two cricketing powerhouses.
