Champions Trophy final: India, New Zealand to battle in title clash after 25 years

Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand produced an all-round effort to outclass South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore. New Zealand and India will meet in the final of an ICC white-ball tournament for the first time since 2000.

Mitchell Santner and Rohit Sharma

It will be Mitchell Santner vs Rohit Sharma in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (AP Photo)

New Zealand defeated South Africa in the second semifinal in Lahore

The BlackCaps will face India in Sunday's final in Dubai

A Sourav Ganguly-led India lost to New Zealand in the 2000 ICC Knockout final

India and New Zealand are set to clash in a major tournament final in white-ball cricket for the first time in 25 years. New Zealand secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final with a dominant performance against South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday. The Black Caps will now face familiar rivals India in the grand finale on Sunday in Dubai.

Finale on Sunday in Dubai

India became the first team to book their spot in the final after defeating Australia by four wickets in Dubai on Tuesday. New Zealand, who lost their last Group A match against India, will now have the opportunity to avenge that defeat when they take on Rohit Sharma and his men at the Dubai

ICC Tournament Finals

India and New Zealand have met twice before in ICC tournament finals. The last time they faced each other in a title match was in the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton, where a Kane Williamson-led New Zealand outclassed India by eight wickets in a rain-affected contest that stretched over six days.

Interestingly, the last time these two teams played in a white-ball tournament final was in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy in Nairobi. On that occasion, New Zealand defeated India by four wickets to secure their first ICC title.

2000 ICC KNOCKOUT FINAL - WINNER: NEW ZEALAND

2021 ICC WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: WINNER NEW ZEALAND

WHEN CHRIS CAIRNS BROKE INDIA'S HEART

India, led by Sourav Ganguly, scored 264/6 in 50 overs, including 117 runs from Ganguly and 69 from Sachin Tendulkar. India appeared poised for a bigger total, but the middle order, comprising Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, and Yuvraj Singh, failed to capitalise.

New Zealand, captained by Stephen Fleming, successfully chased the target, thanks to Chris Cairns' unbeaten 102 off 113 balls. Cairns played a match-winning knock despite battling injuries.

In men's cricket, New Zealand has not won a global white-ball championship sincafter 25 yearse then. They came close in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but stumbled at the final hurdle.

Is Sunday going to be their day? In Dubai, can they challenge the formidable Indian team? India defeated New Zealand last week by bowling them out for 205 and defending a target of 249 in Dubai. Varun Chakravarthy took five wickets in his first match of the tournament as India's spinners ran through New Zealand's batting order. Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat, scoring 79 runs.

However, New Zealand will take confidence from their inspired performance against South Africa, who were knocked out despite finishing top of Group B. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson hit centuries in Lahore, while Mitchell Santner led a dominant display with the ball. Santner claimed three wickets, while Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips took two each to stifle South Africa's chase with spin.

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Champions Trophy final: India, New Zealand to battle in title clash after 25 years