In a thrilling showdown at the Champions Trophy 2025 Final, the stage is set as New Zealand, led by their astute skipper Mitchell Santner, elects to bat first. Yet, looming clouds of uncertainty accompany them; the Kiwis have been dealt a blow with fast bowler Matt Henry sidelined due to injury, leading to Nathan Smith stepping into the fray as his replacement. On the contrary, the Indian squad remains unwavering, unchanged, brimming with confidence.
This clash marks yet another appearance in ICC white-ball finals for Team India – the third such endeavor in the span of just two years. Meanwhile, New Zealand, not to be underestimated, finds itself in its third ICC final over the last six years, and the fourth in nearly a decade. A track record exists here, one that sends shivers down the spines of Indian fans: in the last eight ICC tournaments, India has stumbled against these formidable opponents from across the Tasman Sea, suffering defeat on four distinct occasions.
Rohit Sharma and his team are keenly aware of the looming challenge; New Zealand has a reputation for rising to the occasion in high-stakes matches. With India remaining unbeaten thus far in the tournament, they have cleverly harnessed the unique conditions in Dubai, crafting a lineup saturated with spinners designed to exploit every possible advantage.
Yet, the Kiwis boast their own spinning prowess, setting the stage for an epic tactical duel. The two teams have clashed before in this tournament, where India emerged victorious, thanks to the spectacular tenacity of Varun Chakaravarthy, who delivered a breathtaking five-wicket haul resulting in a resounding triumph.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke.
As the players take their positions, spectators can only speculate what meticulous strategies will unfold. One thing remains sure: the atmosphere is electric, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
