The Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand will take place on March 9. India secured their place in the final by defeating Australia in the semi-final, while New Zealand overcame South Africa to book their spot in the title match. After 25 years, these two teams will once again face each other in the final of an ICC limited-overs tournament.
Second Encounter in Eight Days
India and New Zealand were both part of Group A in the Champions Trophy. India had defeated New Zealand in their last group-stage match, and now, just eight days later, they will meet again in the final. The two teams have faced each other in an ICC tournament final twice before. The last time they clashed in a final was during the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC). That rain-affected match lasted six days, and New Zealand emerged victorious, defeating India by eight wickets.
Kiwis Crushed India’s Dream 25 Years Ago
Interestingly, the last time India and New Zealand met in a final of an ICC limited-overs tournament was in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy (now known as the Champions Trophy). In that match, New Zealand defeated India by four wickets to claim the title. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, India posted a total of 264/6 in 50 overs, thanks to Ganguly’s 117 and Sachin Tendulkar’s 69. However, Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand side successfully chased the target. Chris Cairns played a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 102 off 113 balls to snatch victory from India’s grasp.
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New Zealand’s Long Wait for an ICC White-Ball Trophy
Since that triumph, New Zealand has not won an ICC white-ball tournament. They reached the finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups but ended up losing on both occasions. Now, they have another chance to lift a trophy, but they will face a strong Indian team led by Rohit Sharma, who have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
On March 2, India and New Zealand played at the same venue, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In that match, India set a target of 250 runs. Led by Varun Chakravarthy, the Indian spinners put on a dominant performance, helping India successfully defend their total. Playing his first-ever Champions Trophy match, Varun took five wickets, ensuring New Zealand fell short of the target.