IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 final: Can team India make history or will Kiwis prevail again?

The countdown to a cliff-hanger encounter between India and New Zealand has begun as the two teams battle for dominance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. Dubai's legendary cricket ground awaits history, as Team India is looking to take its winning run at this ground to new heights, and the Black Caps are looking to win here for the first time. Statistically, India is well-placed against New Zealand, but when it's an ICC knockout match, things have not favored India. To write its name in golden letters, India will have to put on a thumping show against the gritty Kiwis.

New Zealand dominance in ICC finals against India

New Zealand has won two ICC trophies, and both times, India was the one left with heartbreak. The first instance dates back to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final when New Zealand defeated India to lift the title. Take the leap to 2021, and history was repeated again as the Kiwis overwhelmed India to claim the World Test Championship. This is the same pattern that makes this much-anticipated final even more interesting. But India is determined not to let history repeat itself and will try to rewrite the script with a winning finish in Dubai.

Head-to-head in ICC knockout competition:

A 3-1 Disadvantage for India India and New Zealand have played four ICC knockout matches against each other, and the Kiwis have superior numbers. New Zealand won three out of the four matches, while India won only one. The first-ever knockout match between the two cricketing giants was in the 2000 Champions Trophy final when New Zealand had the upper hand. The saga continued in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final when the Kiwis had the last laugh once again. The 2021 World Test Championship final further continued the agony of Indian fans when New Zealand declared themselves the champions of the championship. But the jinx was finally broken in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, as India finally broke their ICC knockout jinx against the Kiwis.

With history, numbers, and heart at play, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final will be an explosive match. Can India turn tables and lift the trophy, or will New Zealand continue its grip on ICC knockout encounters? Only on the field will we find out.