New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first in the much-anticipated Champions Trophy final against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The Men in Blue are eyeing back-to-back ICC trophies, while the Black Caps are determined to break their title drought in major ICC events. The final will crown the winner of the eight-nation tournament, which was jointly hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Kiwi all-rounder Mitchell Santner called the pitch a “good batting wicket” and emphasized the team’s readiness for the challenge. “We want to get runs on the board and then hope for the pitch to slow down,” he said. He also confirmed that Nathan Smith replaced Matt Henry in the playing XI due to Henry’s injury.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the importance of batting second, given their previous success at the venue. “All that matters is how well we play and not worrying too much about the result. We expect the boys to play good cricket,” he remarked.
India have played all their matches in Dubai after refusing to tour Pakistan due to political tensions. The team enters the final unbeaten in four games, benefiting from the familiarity of Dubai’s conditions, which contrast with Pakistan’s high-scoring pitches. Critics have suggested India had an advantage by playing exclusively in Dubai, but the team has dismissed such claims.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have focused on adapting to conditions rather than engaging in debates. The Black Caps previously faced India on March 2 at the same venue, where the Men in Blue, fielding four spinners, dominated a spin-friendly surface.
Santner emphasized the need for flexibility, saying, “We have to go in with an open mind about how the pitch will play and adjust accordingly. It could be a 300-run wicket, but it could also be a 250-run winning score.”
Dubai’s highest total in this tournament was Australia’s 264 in the semi-final, which India successfully chased down with 11 balls to spare.
New Zealand are also wary of India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who troubled them in the group stage. Santner acknowledged his threat but added, “Most of our players faced him for the first time, so they would have learned from that contest.”
On the eve of the final, Indian opener Shubman Gill said the team was eager but not desperate for the title. “Sometimes, once you get one title, that kind of breaks the jinx,” he noted, referring to India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. “Winning that title doesn’t mean we’re less hungry—it makes us more balanced. We’ll try to do our best to win this one.”
With both teams set for an intense battle, cricket fans worldwide await a thrilling conclusion to the Champions Trophy 2025.
