Dubai, March 8, 2025: India is set to take on New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday, aiming to reclaim the title after 12 years. However, history suggests it won’t be an easy task. New Zealand has traditionally been a tough opponent, holding a 10-6 advantage over India in ICC tournaments and a 3-1 edge in knockout matches. Overcoming the Kiwis remains one of India’s biggest challenges on the global stage.
Concerns had been raised over New Zealand’s extended stay in Dubai, with critics claiming it gave them an unfair advantage. However, that argument now holds little weight, as both teams are well-acquainted with the conditions. India will take confidence from their spin attack, which has thrived on the sluggish Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch. The team is likely to stick with four spinners and two pacers, a combination that has worked well so far.
Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav have baffled opponents with their wrist-spin, while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have provided accuracy and control, stifling batters into mistakes. If the final is played on the same pitch used for the India-Pakistan match, India’s spinners could prove decisive. New Zealand will look to their best players of spin, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra, to counter the threat. The Kiwis, however, have a strong spin unit of their own, with Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips capable of posing problems for Indian batters.
India will also be aiming to give Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma a perfect farewell, should this be their final ICC event together. Both played key roles in India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year, and speculation is rife about their future in international cricket. Rohit has been making brief starts without converting them into big scores and will need to rectify that in the final. With Matt Henry’s injury weakening New Zealand’s pace attack, it could be an opportunity for him to lead from the front. Kohli, in contrast, has been in excellent form, scoring a century and two half-centuries in his last five innings.
While India will look to their senior players, the younger generation must also step up. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya have all contributed in patches but will need to deliver in unison. Their performances, alongside India’s formidable bowling attack, will be crucial in securing the title. The team’s dominance so far has set the stage for a fairytale finish in Dubai, but New Zealand remains a dangerous opponent.
