Unbeaten India takes on record-breaking Kiwis in pursuit of trophy glory

India and New Zealand Set for High-Stakes Champions Trophy Final in Dubai

India will face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in what could be the last major ODI outing for veteran stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The 36-year-old Kohli and 37-year-old skipper Rohit entered the tournament amid speculation about their retirement from international cricket, particularly in the longer formats. Having been key figures in India’s setup for over 15 years, both retired from T20 internationals after securing the World Cup title last year. With the next 50-over World Cup scheduled for 2027, this final could mark the end of their ODI careers.

Former India pacer Praveen Kumar expressed confidence in Rohit's leadership, stating, "I am sure Rohit will lead India to a title. He will have another ICC trophy soon. Virat and Rohit, give us one more ICC trophy before you retire."

India’s Dominant Campaign

India enters the final as favorites, riding high on confidence after winning all four of their matches in the eight-nation tournament. Their campaign included a 44-run victory over New Zealand in the group stage, although both teams had already secured semi-final berths.

Due to political tensions, India played all their matches in Dubai, opting out of traveling to Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan.

Kohli, under pressure before the tournament, silenced critics with an unbeaten century against Pakistan and a match-winning 84 against Australia in the semi-finals. While Rohit’s highest score has been 41 in the opener against Bangladesh, his aggressive starts have laid solid foundations in challenging batting conditions.

India, aiming for a record third Champions Trophy title, boasts a formidable spin attack. In their earlier win over New Zealand, they fielded four spinners, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge with figures of 5-42. The same spin-heavy strategy worked against Australia in the semi-finals.

New Zealand’s Bid for a Second Title

New Zealand, who won the Champions Trophy in 2000, reached the final by defeating South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore. However, they face an injury concern with pace bowler Matt Henry, who suffered a shoulder injury while taking a catch. Henry, who claimed 5-42 against India in the group stage, is racing against time to be fit for the final.

Star batsman Rachin Ravindra shone with a 108-run knock in New Zealand’s record total of 362 against South Africa. Partnering with Kane Williamson (102), he formed a crucial 164-run stand. The Wellington-born Ravindra, of Indian origin with roots in Bengaluru, has amassed 226 runs in three matches despite an earlier injury scare.

Looking ahead to the final, Ravindra stated, "We don't quite know how the Dubai pitch will behave. We pride ourselves on adapting and playing the situation in front of us."

The Final Showdown

Despite India’s status as favorites and strong crowd support at the 25,000-capacity Dubai stadium, history favors New Zealand. The Black Caps stunned India with a 3-0 Test series sweep last year and hold a superior record in global white-ball tournaments, with nine wins, six losses, and one no-result against India.

With both teams eyeing Champions Trophy glory, Sunday’s final promises to be an electrifying contest between two cricketing powerhouses.