Dubai Awaits: India, NZ Gear Up for Champions Trophy Final

News Desk

Dubai: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has emphasized the significance of the toss ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, set to take place on March 9 in Dubai.

The Black Caps stormed into the final after securing a commanding 50-run victory over South Africa in the second semi-final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. Having already faced India in the group stage at the same venue, where they fell short by 44 runs while chasing a 250-run target, Santner acknowledged that conditions could be a decisive factor in the title clash.

Speaking after his team’s semi-final win, the left-arm spinner highlighted the lessons New Zealand learned from their earlier encounter against India.

“It’s a pretty good feeling. Today we were challenged by a good side, and now we will head to Dubai, where we have already played India before. We’ll take some rest and go again,” Santner said at the post-match presentation.

“We have had a look at them, and they’ve had a look at us. But it’s about identifying what worked and what didn’t. The bowlers did an excellent job in the last game, picking up three early wickets. Winning the toss might be nice as well,” he added.

New Zealand struggled against India’s spin attack in their previous meeting, with mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismantling their batting lineup, registering a maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. The Black Caps were bowled out for 205, failing to chase a modest total.

With a strong track record against India in ICC finals, New Zealand will be eager to extend their dominance. The Kiwis have previously outclassed India in two summit clashes—winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 and the World Test Championship final in 2021.

As both teams prepare for the high-stakes showdown, conditions in Dubai—particularly the impact of dew and pitch behavior—are expected to play a key role in determining the outcome.