In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 grand final, Team India (IND) and New Zealand (NZ) will face off. Notably, on Sunday, March 9, the final will take place in Dubai at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).
This will be the second game for New Zealand and the fifth game for the Blue Brigade in this tournament at this stadium. Though only one team did it with a resounding victory, both teams did win their respective semifinals.
During their semifinal match against Australia, India had to battle for every inch they gained. During the middle overs, Rohit Sharma and company were able to limit Australia’s powerplay advances. The Kangaroos were kept afloat by Steve Smith. In the final overs, Alex Carey then gave the team the impetus they needed. But as the Indian team rallied back into the match, his runout caused a loss of momentum.
Virat Kohli, the master of the chase, seized charge of the game in the run chase after the Men in Blue lost two wickets in the powerplay. Along with Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and KL Rahul, Kohli stitched significant stands and ensured that India was never truly put under strain by the rising asking rate. After thereafter, India advanced to the final thanks to Hardik Pandya’s crucial sixes.
In contrast, New Zealand found it easy to defeat South Africa in Lahore. Before Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips led them to the greatest total in Champions Trophy history, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson scored hundreds. Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma formed a connection, but they were too slow, and the Proteas were able to overcome their growing demands. However, David Miller appeared unfazed and, while fighting a war he knew was lost, blasted the fastest century in tournament history.
In the final group-stage encounter of the tournament, India and New Zealand again faced off in Dubai precisely one week before to the final. The Asian team took some early blows in that match, but Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel were crucial in helping India get out of the hole. With his explosive death overs batting, Hardik Pandya attempted to pull India back in, but Matt Henry’s fifer held the Blue Brigade in check.
Eventually, the action was taken over by India’s spinners, who had excellent control over the hitters. Varun Chakravarthy’s fifer did the majority of the damage as the Kiwis fell victim to the ever-increasing asking rate, despite Kane Williamson’s fifty trying to rally them from a sluggish start.
ODI Stats and Records at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
The pitch which is to be used for the Champions Trophy final is reportedly the same which was used for Pakistan versus India group match. However, given the occasion, it will be a fresh strip, unlike the league stage match. The preferred option will still be to chase on the slow surface, but the Men in Blue haven’t lost any of the 10 matches they have played in this stadium so far.
| Matches Played | 62 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 23 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 37 |
| Matches With No Result | 01 |
| Matches Tied | 01 |
| Average First Innings Score | 229 |
| Highest Team Total | 355 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 285 |
Top player battles to watch out for in India vs New Zealand:
The two didn’t get to face each other in the group stage encounter between the two teams, so Kohli’s arguably excellent record against the southpaw is intact. Kohli has made 180 runs from 259 balls at a strike rate of 69.49 and has been dismissed thrice at an average of 60.
Kane Williamson vs Axar Patel
The Southpaw has mostly managed to gain the upper hand against the Kiwi great in the format. Williamson has scored just 78 runs from 99 balls against Patel at a strike rate of 78.79 while being dismissed twice at an average of 39.
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