The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as India takes on New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final this Sunday in Dubai. Over the past few years, these two teams have built a fierce rivalry in ICC tournaments, and this final promises to be another thrilling encounter.
India has been unstoppable in this tournament, winning all four of their matches, including a convincing 44-run victory over New Zealand in the group stage. Meanwhile, New Zealand bounced back strongly after finishing second in Group A, stunning Group B toppers South Africa by 50 runs in the semi-final in Lahore.
India is aiming for their third ICC Champions Trophy title, while New Zealand is looking to claim their second, having last won the tournament in 2000 (then called the ICC Knockout) by defeating India in the final.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ODIs
- Total matches: 119
- India wins: 61
- New Zealand wins: 50
- Tied: 1
- No result: 7
In ICC Champions Trophy history, both teams have faced each other twice, winning one match each.
- Date: Sunday, March 9
- Time: 2:30 PM IST / 9:00 AM GMT / 2:00 PM Local
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Predicted Playing XIs
India’s Probable XI:
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand’s Probable XI:
Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Matt Henry
Pitch Report – Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Dubai has been a tricky venue for batters in this tournament. With wear and tear on the surface after an entire ILT20 season, the pitch has slowed down, favoring bowlers. The average batting score here has been just 30, and bowlers have dominated throughout the competition. Expect them to play a crucial role again in this final.
Dream11 Captaincy Pick – IND vs NZ
If you’re building your Dream11 team, Virat Kohli is the safest captaincy pick. He has been in excellent form, scoring 217 runs in four innings, just 10 runs short of tournament-leading run-scorer Ben Duckett. Kohli has already played two match-winning knocks, including a century against Pakistan and a solid 84 against Australia.
His record against New Zealand is also outstanding, averaging 57 in ODIs with six centuries, including one in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. Indian fans will be hoping for another clutch performance from the star batter.
Players to Watch Out For
- Virat Kohli (India) – A big-game player who thrives in high-pressure matches.
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – The experienced Kiwi skipper who anchors their batting.
- Axar Patel (India) – His all-round skills could be a game-changer on a slow Dubai pitch.
Match Prediction – Who Will Win the Final?
India has been dominant throughout the tournament and comes into the final as favorites. However, New Zealand has a history of delivering in big matches. It promises to be an exciting battle, but India’s consistency gives them the edge to lift the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.