Ind vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025: Alright, here we go! India vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and this one’s gonna decide who finishes on top of Group A. Both teams are already through to the knockouts, so it’s not about survival—it’s about momentum. And bragging rights, obviously. The India-New Zealand match is always a spicy one in ICC tournaments. The Black Caps have had India’s number more often than not in these big events, but India did get one back in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. So yeah, this should be fun.
New Zealand’s Strong Start & Kane’s Slow One
New Zealand kicked off the tournament in style, brushing aside Pakistan in their opener. Then, Rachin Ravindra made a grand comeback against Bangladesh with a match-winning knock. Two wins in two. Smooth sailing so far. But their ex-skipper Kane Williamson? Not quite the same story. Two single-digit scores. Ouch. Maybe a change in venue helps him out? We’ll see.
Spin? Covered. Michael Bracewell and Mitch Santner have been killing it. And in Dubai, where the pitches get slow and low, that’s a huge plus. Pace attack? A bit green, a bit untested, but holding up alright so far. That said, today’s match is gonna be a real test for them.
India in Cruise Control
India has played all their matches at the same venue so far in the tournament. But don’t get it twisted—they’ve earned those wins. Both times, their bowlers got the opposition out for below-par scores, and the batters strolled to victory. Virat Kohli’s back in form, dropping a solid century. The whole top order is clicking. Just what Indian fans wanna see.
There were a few concerns about Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Shami’s fitness before this match. But KL Rahul confirmed in a press conference—both are good to go. That said, since this game doesn’t affect qualification, India might mix things up. Rest a few big names, give the bench a shot. Makes sense, right?
The History & The Hesson Theory
h, the India-New Zealand ICC rivalry. Over the past decade, it’s been pretty one-sided—just not in India’s favor. The numbers? 5-10 in ICC tournaments. And yeah, that includes the WTC final loss. The Black Caps just seem to have India’s number when it matters.
Mike Hesson, former New Zealand coach, has a theory. He says the Kiwis don’t feel the same pressure as Indian players, who are constantly fighting for their spots. No endless competition means New Zealanders can just focus on their roles, play as a unit, and thrive in big tournaments. Makes sense when you think about it. No stress, just vibes (and some solid cricket, obviously).
But here’s the thing—India did crush New Zealand the last time they met in a big ICC game, that 2023 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai. Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Shreyas, and Rahul—everyone fired. If they can repeat that performance today, the momentum shifts their way heading into the knockouts.
Possible Lineups & What to Expect
For India, the big question is: Will they rotate the squad? Rohit seemed fine batting on Friday, but with that hamstring scare, maybe he sits this one out. Shami, fresh off knee surgery, might also get a breather. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy could step in.
India’s probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand? They’ve got some decisions to make too. Daryl Mitchell is fit again after missing the Bangladesh game. But does he come back in? Rachin Ravindra, who replaced him, just smashed a hundred. And before that, Will Young (who took Ravindra’s place when he was injured) also hit a century. That’s a good kind of problem to have.
New Zealand’s probable XI: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke.
As for the conditions—should be decent. Mornings and nights are chilly, but it’ll warm up nicely during the game. Toss might be a factor. Bat first? Chase? India won’t mind either way.
A Few Fun Facts Before the Game
- Virat Kohli’s 300th ODI! And guess what? He hit a century in his 200th ODI, also against New Zealand. Good omen?
- New Zealand seamers have some of the highest release points in the tournament. That could mean a barrage of short balls for Shreyas Iyer. He’s been handling them well lately, though.
- NZ don’t have a wrist spinner in their squad, yet they lead the spin stats. Santner and Bracewell have been turning it big—over 4.5 degrees on more than a third of their deliveries.
- Michael Bracewell is topping the spinner wicket charts with five wickets and a ridiculous 70% dot ball rate.
The Final Word
KL Rahul summed it up best: “No game is easy, no team can be taken lightly.” And he’s right. New Zealand’s always been a tough opponent, especially in ICC tournaments. But India’s on a roll. It’s gonna be an interesting clash—who takes the top spot in Group A? Let’s find out.
When? March 2, 13:00 Local, 14:30 IST. Where? Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Buckle up, folks. It’s time for some cricket!
