Introduction: India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Final

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is about to conclude after 18 days of intense cricket tournaments and 14 exciting matches. The finale, the India vs. New Zealand Champions Trophy Final, will be in Dubai on 9 Matches. Two cricket titans, India and New Zealand, will square off in the championship match. 

India, chasing a record third Champions Trophy title, has dominated the tournament with their aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding. They enter the final as favorites. However, New Zealand, known for its ability to defy expectations, has a perfect mix of experienced leaders and rising stars. The Black Caps are more than ready to challenge India’s supremacy. Don’t miss live streaming only on  Jeetbuzz App.

After India defeated Australia and New Zealand won against South Africa in the semi-finals, both teams will now face each other in the final. Here’s a look at their journey so far:

India’s Road to the Final

India has been unstoppable in this tournament, winning every match with authority.

• Six-wicket win over Bangladesh (Shubman Gill’s century set the tone)
• Six-wicket win over Pakistan (Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100)
• 44-run win over New Zealand (Varun Chakravarthy’s 5-for)
• Four-wicket win over Australia in the semi-final (Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic)

Despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s bowling attack has been great. Kuldeep Yadav has stepped up as the lead spinner, while Varun Chakravarthy has added a surprise element to their attack. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill in fine form, India looks like a well-oiled machine.

New Zealand’s Resilient Campaign

New Zealand’s journey to the final has been a mix of strategic brilliance and sheer determination.

• 60-run win over Pakistan in Karachi
• Five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi
• 44-run loss to India in Dubai
• 50-run win over South Africa in the semi-final (Williamson & Ravindra centuries)

Under Mitchell Santner’s leadership, the Black Caps have remained composed. Their semi-final performance was outstanding, with Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson delivering crucial centuries. Santner’s all-round skills and Matt Henry’s pace attack have been instrumental in their campaign.

Expert Predictions: India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Final

Michael Clarke’s Confidence in India

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has backed India on Beyond23 Cricket Podcast:

“I am going to stick with my prediction before a ball was bowled. I am going to say India to win the ICC Champions Trophy. It is going to be a good game, but I am going to say India.”

India is the best because of their well-rounded team and capacity to perform well under pressure. However, cricket is unpredictable, and New Zealand has proven time and again that they can pull off upsets.

Nasser Hussain: New Zealand Cannot Be Ignored

Former England captain Nasser Hussain while speaking on Sky Sports Cricket believes New Zealand’s consistency in ICC tournaments makes them a dangerous side:

“They have that great mixture between senior pros who have been there year in, year out, like Kane Williamson, one of the all-time greats and youth in the likes of Rachin Ravindra. They may well lose, but if they do, it will be because India beat them.”

With five ICC global event final appearances in the last decade, New Zealand has established itself as a true cricketing powerhouse.

Wasim Akram: A Close Contest Expected

Pakistani legend Wasim Akram in his analysis on A Sports, shared his perspective on the highly anticipated final:

“Despite being the favorites, India won’t win 70-30. It’s more like 60-40. New Zealand know what to expect from the pitch and will be well-prepared.”

New Zealand’s adaptability and experience in high-pressure games make them a serious threat, ensuring that India will have to bring their absolute best to lift the trophy.

Key Factors That Could Decide the Final

Pitch and Conditions at Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Dubai’s surface has been fair to both batters and bowlers, but conditions will play a huge role in deciding strategies.

Pitch Behavior:

• First 10 Overs: Pacers get early swing and seam movement.
• Middle Overs: Spinners will dominate, with Santner and Kuldeep playing key roles.
• Final Overs: Dew might help batters, making chasing easier.

Average First Innings Score:

Around 290-310, but high scores are possible if batters settle in.

Toss Impact:

• Teams winning the toss might choose to chase, as dew could make batting easier in the second innings.
• However, if the pitch slows down, batting first and setting a big total might be the better option.

Head-to-Head Record: Can India Overcome Their Knockout Woes?

India and New Zealand have faced off 110 times in ODIs, with India holding a slight edge in overall wins. However, when it comes to ICC knockout matches, New Zealand has been India’s biggest hurdle in recent years.

Recent ICC Knockout Clashes:

• 2019 World Cup Semi-final – New Zealand defeated India by 18 runs, knocking them out in a heartbreaking loss.
• 2021 World Test Championship Final – New Zealand won convincingly, denying India another ICC trophy.
• 2023 World Cup Semi-final – India finally broke the streak, defeating New Zealand in a high-scoring thriller.

What This Means for the Final

India has struggled against New Zealand in pressure situations, making this final a mental battle as much as a cricketing contest. While India enters the match as favorites, New Zealand’s ability to rise in big games makes them a dangerous opponent.

Predicted Players XIs

India:	New Zealand:
Rohit Sharma (C)	Mitchell Santner (C)
KL Rahul (WK)	Tom Latham (WK)
Shubman Gill	Devon Conway
Virat Kohli	Rachin Ravindra
Shreyas Iyer	Kane Williamson
Hardik Pandya	Daryl Mitchell
Ravindra Jadeja	Glenn Phillips
Kuldeep Yadav	Kyle Jamieson
Mohammed Shami	Trent Boult
Arshdeep Singh	Tim Southee
Varun Chakravarthy	Jacob Duffy

Key Players to Watch In ICC Champions Trophy Final

India:

Virat Kohli – With six centuries and nine fifties against New Zealand, Kohli thrives on big occasions. He is India’s biggest match-winner.

Shubman Gill – The world’s top-rated ODI batter started strong with a century against Bangladesh. His 74-average against New Zealand makes him a crucial player.

Varun Chakravarthy – The ‘mystery spinner’ rattled New Zealand in the group stage with a five-wicket haul. Expect him to be India’s X-factor again.

New Zealand:

Kane Williamson – A master of big matches, he was New Zealand’s top scorer against India in the group stage.

Matt Henry – The tournament’s leading wicket-taker might miss the final due to injury. If he plays, he remains a massive threat.

Mitchell Santner – The captain is one of the world’s top all-rounders. His left-arm spin could trouble India’s right-hand-heavy batting lineup.

Key Player Match-ups to Watch

Gill vs Henry – The world’s top batter takes on the tournament’s top bowler. Henry dismissed Gill in the group stage; can he do it again?

Kohli vs Santner – Kohli struggles against left-arm spin. Can Santner exploit this weakness?

Williamson vs Shami – India needs Shami’s experience to contain Williamson, who thrives in big matches.

Rachin Ravindra vs Hardik Pandya – Ravindra has averaged 75 in the tournament. Pandya dismissed him cheaply in the group stage, but can he do it again?

Final Thoughts: Who Will Lift the Trophy?

India enters the final with a more balanced squad, boasting a powerful batting lineup and a lethal bowling attack. However, New Zealand thrives under pressure and has often been India’s kryptonite in ICC tournaments. The key to victory for India will be handling the Kiwi pacers. 

Who will emerge victorious? The cricketing world waits in anticipation. March 9, 2025—Dubai will witness history.