The much-anticipated final of the Champions Trophy 2025 is underway, with New Zealand opting to bat first after skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss at the Dubai International Stadium. The Kiwis have made one forced change, bringing in Nathan Smith for the injured Matt Henry, while India remains unchanged.

This is yet another ICC white-ball final for both teams. India, under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, has reached their third ICC final in two years, while New Zealand continues its streak of big-match appearances, playing their third ICC final in six years. Given India’s past struggles against the Black Caps in ICC events, the Men in Blue will be extra cautious in this high-stakes encounter.

Current Score Update (9.2 Overs): New Zealand – 65/1

New Zealand started aggressively, with Rachin Ravindra leading the charge. However, Will Young fell for 15 runs, trapped LBW by Varun Chakaravarthy. The Kiwis have looked solid despite a couple of dropped catches that gave Ravindra extra lives.

Key Moments So Far:

OUT! Will Young Departs (57/1 in 7.5 Overs)

The first breakthrough for India came when Varun Chakaravarthy trapped Will Young LBW for 15. Young attempted a flick but missed, and after a brief chat with Ravindra, he decided not to review.

DRS Saves Ravindra (Prior to 15:09 IST)

Rachin Ravindra survived a close call after a caught-behind decision was overturned using DRS. Ultra-edge showed no spike, keeping him in the middle.

DROPPED! Ravindra Given Another Life (15:06 IST)

Shreyas Iyer failed to hold onto a tough catch in the deep as Ravindra mistimed a big shot. He was on 29 runs at that point and continues to ride his luck.

50 Up for New Zealand in 7 Overs (15:05 IST)

A boundary from Will Young helped the Black Caps cross the 50-run mark in just 7 overs, showing their aggressive intent.

Mohammed Shami Injured (15:02 IST)

A moment of concern for India as Shami hurt himself. The physio came out to check on him.

Spin Introduced: Chakaravarthy into the Attack (14:56 IST)

With pacers leaking runs, Rohit Sharma turned to Varun Chakaravarthy, who had a five-wicket haul against New Zealand earlier in the tournament. His first over yielded 9 runs, including a wide delivery that ran away for five extras.

Ravindra’s Aggressive Approach (14:52 IST)

The left-hander continued his assault on the Indian bowlers, smashing two quick boundaries off Shami. One was a stylish wristy flick, and the other flew through the slip region for four.

Pandya’s Expensive Over (14:46 IST)

Hardik Pandya faced Rachin Ravindra’s wrath in the 4th over, conceding 16 runs. Ravindra played some breathtaking shots, including a six and a couple of well-placed boundaries.

Playing XIs for the Final:

India:

• Rohit Sharma (captain)
• Shubman Gill
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• Axar Patel
• KL Rahul (wicketkeeper)
• Hardik Pandya
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Mohammed Shami
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Varun Chakaravarthy

New Zealand:

• Will Young
• Rachin Ravindra
• Kane Williamson
• Daryl Mitchell
• Tom Latham (wicketkeeper)
• Glenn Phillips
• Michael Bracewell
• Mitchell Santner (captain)
• Nathan Smith
• Kyle Jamieson
• William O’Rourke

Toss Report: New Zealand Opt to Bat First

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bat, looking to set a challenging total. He cited the pitch’s similarity to the one from their previous match against India, hoping it would slow down as the game progresses.

India’s Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, remained unfazed by the toss result, stating that his team is comfortable chasing and focused on execution rather than conditions.

Road to the Final – How They Got Here:

India’s Journey:

• Defeated Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia to reach the final.
• Varun Chakaravarthy’s five-wicket haul against NZ in the group stage was a highlight.
• Strong performances from Rohit, Kohli, and Shami helped India maintain an unbeaten run.

New Zealand’s Journey:

• Wins over Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa secured their final berth.
• Lost only to India in the group stage.
• Mitchell Santner’s leadership and Kane Williamson’s experience have been crucial.

Head-to-Head in ICC Finals

• 2000 Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand won
• 2021 World Test Championship Final: New Zealand won
• 2025 Champions Trophy Final: ???

India has struggled against New Zealand in ICC knockout matches, making this a crucial test for Rohit Sharma’s men.

Records & Milestones:

New Zealand’s ICC White-Ball Finals Record:

• Champions Trophy 2000 – Won
• Champions Trophy 2009 – Lost
• World Cup 2015 – Lost
• World Cup 2019 – Lost
• T20 World Cup 2021 – Lost
• Champions Trophy 2025 – ???

India’s ICC White-Ball Finals Record:

• 1983 World Cup – Won
• 2000 Champions Trophy – Lost
• 2002 Champions Trophy – Joint Winners
• 2003 World Cup – Lost
• 2007 World T20 – Won
• 2011 World Cup – Won
• 2013 Champions Trophy – Won
• 2014 T20 World Cup – Lost
• 2017 Champions Trophy – Lost
• 2023 ODI World Cup – Lost
• 2024 T20 World Cup – Won
• 2025 Champions Trophy – ???

What’s Next?

With Rachin Ravindra in fine form and New Zealand looking to set a big total, the next few overs will be crucial. Can India’s spinners turn the game around? Stay tuned for further updates as the Champions Trophy 2025 final unfolds!