As India and New Zealand gear up to face each other in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, cricket fans are in for a high-stakes rematch. This marks their first white-ball tournament final encounter in 25 years, with the last such meeting occurring at the ICC Knockout Trophy (now known as the Champions Trophy) in 2000, where New Zealand clinched their maiden ICC title.
India’s Road to the 2025 Final
India sealed their spot in the final after a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Australia in Dubai. Meanwhile, New Zealand secured their berth by overcoming South Africa in the semi-final in Lahore, showcasing their depth and resilience. The Black Caps’ semi-final win saw standout performances from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, both of whom scored centuries. Their spinners, led by Mitchell Santner (three wickets), along with Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips (two wickets each), played a crucial role in curbing South Africa’s chase, despite David Miller’s century.
The upcoming final also provides New Zealand with a shot at redemption, as they were beaten by India in the group stage of the tournament. In that encounter, India restricted the Kiwis to 205 and successfully defended a target of 249. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy shone on his tournament debut, claiming five wickets, while Shreyas Iyer contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 79 runs.
Revisiting the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy Final
The last time these two teams met in a Champions Trophy final was in 2000 in Nairobi, a match that remains etched in the memories of cricket fans. India, under Sourav Ganguly’s leadership, looked poised to claim their first ICC title since 1985. Ganguly was in sensational form, having scored a commanding 141 in the semi-final against South Africa. He continued his stellar run in the final, smashing 117, as India looked set for a dominant total. At 202/1 in the 39th over, a score exceeding 300 seemed likely, but a late flurry of wickets restricted them to 264/6.
New Zealand’s chase began on a shaky note as they lost Craig Spearman for just six runs and then skipper Stephen Fleming soon after, with both wickets falling to Venkatesh Prasad. Anil Kumble then broke a promising third-wicket stand between Nathan Astle and Roger Twose. At 132/5, the Kiwis were struggling, with India seemingly in control of the match.
However, it was Chris Cairns who turned the tide. Battling a knee injury, Cairns played a career-defining innings, scoring an unbeaten 102. He found support from Chris Harris, with whom he stitched together a crucial 122-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Though Prasad eventually dismissed Harris for 46, the damage had been done. Cairns fittingly hit the winning run, delivering New Zealand their first-ever ICC white-ball title with a four-wicket win.
A Rivalry Renewed
Since their 2000 encounter, India and New Zealand have faced off in several high-profile ICC tournament matches, including the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final, where Williamson’s side once again bested India. As they prepare to meet again in Dubai for the 2025 Champions Trophy final, both teams will be eager to etch their names in history.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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