India and New Zealand are set to clash in the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy Final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
With both teams having displayed remarkable performances throughout the tournament, the final promises to be an exciting battle.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, has been the standout team in the competition, remaining unbeaten so far. The Men in Blue defeated Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the league stage before overcoming Australia in the semifinal.
Their dominance in the tournament makes them the favorites heading into the final.
New Zealand, under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, has also been a strong contender. The Black Caps defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh in the group stage but suffered a loss against India.
However, they bounced back by defeating South Africa in the semifinal to secure a place in the title clash.
While India has been the superior side on paper, New Zealand has a history of troubling them in ICC knockout matches. The Kiwis will be aiming to cause an upset, just like they did in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and the World Test Championship Final in 2021.
Head-to-Head Record in ICC Knockouts
India and New Zealand have a competitive history in ICC knockout matches. Out of the five encounters, New Zealand has won three and India has won two.
2000 ICC Champions Trophy Final – New Zealand won
2000 ICC Champions Trophy Quarterfinal – India won
2019 ICC World Cup Semifinal – New Zealand won
2021 ICC World Test Championship Final – New Zealand won
2023 ICC World Cup Semifinal – India won
With this history in mind, New Zealand will be confident about their chances, while India will be determined to reverse past setbacks and claim another ICC title.
Pitch Report & Conditions
The pitch used for the India vs Pakistan match in the group stage will be used again for the final. The surface has assisted spinners, and batting first could be an advantage as chasing has been challenging in Dubai.
With no significant dew expected in the evening, teams will likely prefer to bat first and set a big total to put pressure on the opposition.
India vs New Zealand: Full Squads
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar.
New Zealand Squad
Mitchell Santner (Captain), Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (Wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Nathan Smith.
Predicted Playing XIs
India's Possible XI
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel.
New Zealand's Possible XI
Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (WK), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke.
Match Expectations & Key Players to Watch
For India, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill will be crucial in setting the tone with the bat. Hardik Pandya provides an all-round option, while the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja could be decisive on the slow Dubai pitch.
Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack.
For New Zealand, Kane Williamson remains their backbone, with support from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell in the batting lineup. Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry will play a vital role with the ball, while Kyle Jamieson’s pace could trouble the Indian batters.
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