IND vs NZ Final Preview & Prediction: ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Match Details

• Date: March 9, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM Local Time
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
• Format: ODI

Road to the Final

India 🇮🇳 (WWWWW)

The Men in Blue enter the final as the tournament’s most dominant side, boasting a flawless 5-0 record. Their clinical performances have been built on explosive batting, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and a lethal spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. Their semi-final win over Australia (chasing 302 with 11 balls to spare) highlighted their ability to thrive under pressure.

New Zealand 🇳🇿 (WWWLW)

The Black Caps bounced back after a group-stage loss to India, defeating South Africa by 50 runs in the semi-final. Skipper Mitchell Santner has marshaled his resources smartly, with Kane Williamson anchoring the batting and Kyle Jamieson delivering clutch spells. Their middle-order power hitters (Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell) could be decisive in Dubai’s high-pressure chase.

Head-to-Head (Last 5 ODIs)

India hold a psychological edge, winning all five recent encounters:

• Mar 2025: India won by 44 runs (CT Group Stage)
• Jan 2023: India won by 70 runs (Bilateral Series)
• Nov 2022: India won by 4 wickets (T20 World Cup)
• Oct 2021: India won by 90 runs (Test Series)
• Feb 2020: India won by 8 wickets (ODI Series)

India Squad Playing:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

New Zealand Squad Playing:

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, William ORourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson

Key Matchups

• Rohit Sharma vs Trent Boult’s Absence: With Boult missing from NZ’s squad, India’s openers (Rohit, Shubman Gill) could exploit the powerplay.
• Kuldeep vs NZ’s Middle Order: Kuldeep’s wrist spin (12 wickets in CT 2025) vs NZ’s Phillips/Ravindra will shape the middle overs.
• Santner’s Spin vs Kohli: Santner’s economy (4.8 this tournament) could stifle Kohli’s rhythm.

Pitch & Conditions

The Dubai surface has favored spinners as matches progress, with an average 1st innings score of 275 in CT 2025. Dew in evening games may tempt the captain winning the toss to chase.

Prediction

India start as favorites, but finals often defy logic. Here’s why:

• India’s Edge: Batting depth, spin variety, and momentum from 10 consecutive ODI wins.
• NZ’s Wildcard: Williamson’s big-match temperament and Jamieson’s death bowling.

Verdict: Expect a high-scoring thriller. India’s firepower and recent dominance over NZ give them a 60-40 advantage. However, New Zealand’s knack for finals (2021 WTC, 2019 WC) means complacency could cost India dearly.

Score Prediction: India 295-310 vs NZ 280-290. India to win by 15-25 runs.

Cricket’s finest hour awaits. Will India lift their third CT title, or will New Zealand script another underdog triumph?