Dubai: The unbeaten Indian team will clash with a formidable New Zealand side in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday. This highly anticipated summit clash will see a new champion crowned after an eight-year-long wait. Notably, India fell short in the 2017 final, losing to Pakistan and missing out on a consecutive title. This will be India’s third consecutive appearance in a Champions Trophy final, making them the first team to achieve this feat.
India and New Zealand were placed in the same group earlier in the tournament, where India emerged victorious in their last encounter, securing a 44-run win. The Men in Blue topped Group A with three consecutive wins and advanced to the final after defeating reigning ODI World Champions Australia by four wickets in the semifinals.
On the other hand, New Zealand began their campaign with a victory over defending champions and hosts Pakistan in Karachi. They followed it up with a win against Bangladesh before suffering a defeat against India. In the semifinal, the Black Caps overcame South Africa by 50 runs to book their place in the final against India. As the world eagerly awaits the new champion, historical records in ICC knockout matches favor New Zealand across all formats.
India and New Zealand have clashed in four ICC knockout matches, with the Black Caps holding a 3-1 edge over the Men in Blue. Their previous encounters include the 2000 Champions Trophy final, the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cup semifinals, and the 2021 World Test Championship final. India’s lone success came in their most recent meeting, the 2023 World Cup semifinal. New Zealand secured their maiden ICC title in 2000, when Chris Cairns’ match-winning century guided them to a successful chase of 265 runs against India. They repeated their triumph in 2021, defeating India in the WTC final to claim their second and most recent ICC trophy.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ODIs In 119 ODI encounters, India has won 61 matches, while New Zealand has secured victory in 50 games. One match ended in a tie, and seven games concluded without a result. As both teams gear up for the final, India aims to break New Zealand’s historical dominance in ICC knockout games and secure another major title.
