India and New Zealand are set to clash once again, this time for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title, after both teams triumphed over Australia and South Africa respectively in the semifinals. The highly anticipated final is taking place at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to set a competitive total against the cricketing giants from India.
New Zealand, struggling with form leading up to the final, posted 251 runs for the loss of seven wickets across their 50 overs. Star batsman Michael Bracewell ended with an impressive unbeaten 53 runs from just 40 balls, contributing significantly to New Zealand's respectable score. Despite their solid start, New Zealand's innings was marked by tight bowling from India's spinners, with Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav each claiming two wickets.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, wasted no time asserting dominance as he launched his team's chase. By the end of the sixth over, India scored 39 runs without losing any wickets, with Rohit leading the charge with explosive batting. "Rohit Sharma is on song tonight! After some initial testing from New Zealand's bowlers, he is finding his rhythm and charging through the chase," noted one commentator live from the stadium.
Earlier, the final started with great anticipation, following India and New Zealand's thrilling performances throughout the tournament. The match commenced with New Zealand winning the toss—marking India's 15th consecutive loss at the toss, stretching back to previous encounters against New Zealand; they have also lost every toss under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
New Zealand’s innings initially appeared promising as they reached 65/0, with dynamic opener Rachin Ravindra providing aggressive runs. Yet, as the game progressed, wickets began to tumble. Ravindra, after scoring 37, fell victim to Kuldeep Yadav both moments after Kane Williamson was caught off his own bowling, which shook New Zealand's stability (a surprise for many who expected the experienced Williamson to anchor their innings).
Daryl Mitchell, who recorded 63 runs, could only manage to do so after facing 91 balls, marking his slowest fifty. By the end of the inning, New Zealand had lost momentum as the Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, took control. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav were instrumental, with Jadeja finishing the tournament with five wickets across 41 overs bowled.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Black Caps managed to muster some resilience. Bracewell's late flourish brought New Zealand to over 250 runs—a psychological barrier meaning fully for the chasing team. He hit some big shots, including one six off Hardik Pandya, which helped create urgency back to his team’s score.
India, meanwhile, has entered this final undefeated—showcasing remarkable skills with both bat and ball throughout the tournament. Meddling players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill showcased their capabilities but it's Rohit who remains the epicenter of expectation. The chase remains tight, with solid formation on part of both sides.
A change also came for New Zealand when leading wicket-taker Matt Henry was ruled out due to injury, which forced them to bring Nathan Smith. On the opposite side, India retained their squad, having faced no injury concerns.
"This is it—the climax of our season, so much is at stake. New Zealand is ready for vengeance and India is eager to consolidate its dominance on the world stage," remarked one sports analyst during pre-match discussions.
With expectations burgeoning among fans across the globe, the match aired at 2:30 PM IST and was available for streaming on Jio Hotstar with commentary from renowned cricket figures.
The Dubai pitch is known for assisting spinners, and as the contest progresses, it remains to be seen if New Zealand made the right call by opting to bat first. A perfect culmination to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 awaits, with both teams battling for ultimate glory. Will India emerge victorious and take home another prestigious title, or will New Zealand finally conquer the final curse? The excitement is palpable, and as the players take to the field for the second innings, the cricketing world holds its breath.