India is set to clash with New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 9 in Dubai. Team India has played and won all its matches in this tournament at the same venue, including a victory over New Zealand in the league stage. With this record, Rohit Sharma and his team appear to have an edge over the Kiwis in terms of experience and momentum.
A similar situation was seen in the 2023 ODI World Cup when India entered the final as a dominant team. The key factor in the upcoming final will be which team handles the pressure better. India has reached the Champions Trophy final for the fifth time, while this will be New Zealand’s third appearance in the title match. The final offers a golden opportunity for India to avenge its loss to New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final.
Had the match been held in Pakistan, New Zealand might have had an advantage, considering their remarkable record of winning seven consecutive matches on Pakistani soil. This achievement equals India’s streak of seven consecutive wins in Pakistan between February 2006 and June 2008.
New Zealand secured its place in the final by defeating South Africa by 50 runs in the second semifinal. Batting first, New Zealand posted a massive total of 362 for six in 50 overs, the highest first-innings total in Champions Trophy history. In response, South Africa managed 312 for nine. The match saw three centuries, with two coming from New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, while David Miller scored one for South Africa. It was the first time in Champions Trophy history that three centuries were scored in a single match.
India will need to be wary of New Zealand's rising star, Rachin Ravindra, who has scored all five of his ODI centuries in ICC tournaments. Kane Williamson, another key player, has hit four centuries in ICC events and has already delivered a strong performance against India in this tournament. The final is set to witness an intense battle between Williamson and Virat Kohli, both of whom have been in exceptional form. Their head-to-head contest could play a decisive role in determining the champion of this highly anticipated final.
