India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Who Will Take Home the Trophy?

Champions Trophy 2025 Final: The Champions Trophy 2025 final will see India and New Zealand battle for glory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9. Both teams have played excellent cricket throughout the tournament and are now one step away from lifting the ICC trophy. While India has looked stronger on paper, New Zealand has been India’s biggest hurdle in ICC knockout matches, having defeated them in crucial encounters over the years. This final is expected to be an exciting contest between two well-balanced teams.

Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India’s Biggest Challenges in the Final

India will have to overcome some key threats from the New Zealand team to secure the win:

Rachin Ravindra – The Rising Star

• The 25-year-old all-rounder has been in sensational form, scoring five ODI centuries in ICC tournaments within 18 months.
• He played a match-winning knock in the semifinal against South Africa, proving that he can handle pressure.
• India dismissed him early in the group stage and will look to do the same again.

Kane Williamson – The Experienced Leader

• Despite stepping down as captain, Williamson remains New Zealand’s biggest match-winner.
• His record against India in ICC events is excellent, having scored 333 runs in his last six innings against them at an average of 83.25.
• If he stays at the crease for long, he could guide New Zealand to a big total.

Matt Henry – The Bowler Who Haunts India

• Henry was India’s nightmare in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, where he dismissed key Indian batters early.
• If fit, he will lead New Zealand’s pace attack and try to repeat his past heroics.
• He had a shoulder injury in the semifinal, and if he isn’t fit, Nathan Smith or Jacob Duffy could replace him.

Mitchell Santner – The Spin Master

• The New Zealand captain is an underrated match-winner, controlling the game with his left-arm spin.
• His battle against Virat Kohli will be interesting, as Kohli has sometimes struggled against quality spin.
• He also provides depth in batting, making him a key player in this final.

Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India’s Probable Playing XI

India is likely to retain their winning combination, with two pacers and four spinners. There is some talk of resting Kuldeep Yadav due to his average form, but Rohit Sharma prefers backing his experienced players.

India’s Probable XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy.

Champions Trophy 2025 Final: New Zealand’s Probable Playing XI

New Zealand is also expected to stick with their semi-final winning team, although Matt Henry’s fitness remains uncertain. Devon Conway might also be considered as a left-handed option against India’s spinners, but Will Young’s form should keep him in the XI.

New Zealand’s Probable XI:
Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Matt Henry/Nathan Smith.

Match Details & Pitch Report

• Date & Time: March 9, 13:00 Local, 14:30 IST.
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
• Pitch Conditions: Balanced pitch with no dew expected. Spinners could play a big role, and it may not be a high-scoring match.

India vs New Zealand – ICC Knockout Record

• New Zealand leads 3-1 in ICC knockout matches against India.
• The Kiwis won in the 2000 Champions Trophy final, 2019 World Cup semifinal, and 2023 WTC final.
• India’s only win came in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal.

Key Stats to Watch

• Virat Kohli needs 55 more runs to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history.
• New Zealand’s spinners have taken 15 wickets in the last three games at an average of 26, but against India, they managed only two wickets at an average of 64.
• Pacers and spinners have taken 30 wickets each in the tournament at Dubai, showing a balanced contest between bat and ball.

Conclusion

The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final is expected to be a nail-biting clash. India will aim to end their ICC knockout woes against New Zealand, while the Black Caps will try to continue their dominance over India in crucial matches. With both teams in great form and strong lineups, this promises to be a historic final that fans won’t want to miss!

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