Everything is set for the Champions Trophy 2025 summit duel, with India facing New Zealand in the final of the tournament’s ninth edition. The highly awaited match will take place on Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India emerged as the winner in Group A. Their journey to the knockout phase was rather smooth. Their first two games saw them chase average totals against Bangladesh and New Zealand, respectively. Both matches were won by a margin of six wickets. The Men in Blue advanced to the knockout rounds after defeating New Zealand in their final group-stage game. The first semi-final against Australia was a close contest. What got them through was their more clinical demeanour on the day.
New Zealand defeated Pakistan and Afghanistan by 60 runs and five wickets, respectively. They were 44 runs short versus India. They finished in second position in Group B. They, like India, appeared to be blazing in all departments and presented themselves as a well-rounded outfit throughout their group-stage run. They defeated South Africa in their semi-final with a genuinely overpowering performance.
Both teams have enjoyed a great preparation to the competition. While India dominated England in the white-ball series at home, winning seven of eight games (four T20Is and three ODIs), New Zealand won the Tri-Nation Series. As a result, an exciting grand finale is likely to occur.
Here are the three records that might get broken in Champions Trophy 2025 final:
1. If India win, they will become the first team to win the Champions Trophy thrice
In 2002 and 2013, India was the first to hold the Champions Trophy trophy. India will win the competition for the third time in 2025. They will become the first team in world cricket history to win the Champions Trophy three times after defeating New Zealand on March 9. Australia and India are currently on equal footing, with both teams having won the championship twice.
In the 2002 tournament, the reserve day was rained off just as the second innings had started on both days, thus Sri Lanka and India shared the title following the first matchday. Sri Lanka, captained by Sanath Jayasuriya, won the toss both times and chose to bat first. Rain interrupted both matches, limiting India to two and 8.4 overs, respectively. India won the award in a 20-overs-a-side contest that was cut short due to rain thanks to an all-around performance by Ravindra Jadeja (33* off 25 and 2/24 in four overs).
2. If India win, it will be the first time they defeat New Zealand in an ICC final
In the Champions Trophy final, India has the opportunity to defeat the Black Caps for the first time in an ICC competition final. The two countries have already faced off against one another in two ICC finals: the Champions Trophy 2000 and the World Test Championship cycle 2019–21. In both cases, India ended up losing the match.
New Zealand won the Champions Trophy 2000 final at Nairobi’s Gymkhana Club Ground by a margin of four wickets. The Kiwis prevailed by two deliveries remaining in a battle that went right down to the wire. Player of the Match went to Chris Cairns, who had an undefeated 102*. In the 2019–21 WTC final, 21 years later, the two teams faced off one more. New Zealand won by eight wickets thanks to a brilliant bowling performance from Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in 22 overs and 2/30 in 24 overs).
3. Virat Kohli 46 runs away from becoming leading run-scorer of Champions Trophy
On the list of all-time run scorers in the tournament’s history, star batsman Virat Kohli of India comes in at number two. With 16 innings remaining in the tournament, Kohli has amassed 746 runs ahead of the crucial final. The top spot on the list is held by former West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle. Another inning has seen Gayle score 791 runs.
Kohli has a great chance to overtake Gayle and move up to the top of the rankings. In the last few months, Kohli has struggled in the red-ball format, but his recent ODI efforts have helped him find his game again. In his last five innings in the format, Kohli has amassed a tonne of runs and two half-centuries. It appears as though the big-match star will deliver another powerful blow to the Kiwis.
India
