India chase historic third Champions Trophy as New Zealand plot another upset

India will aim to secure a record third ICC Champions Trophy title when they face New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 9 March.

The Rohit Sharma-led side has been in scintillating form, remaining unbeaten in the tournament and setting up a highly anticipated clash against the Black Caps, who are also seeking a major white-ball title.

India's road to the final

India reached their third consecutive Champions Trophy final with a clinical four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semi-final on 4 March. Pacer Mohammad Shami led the bowling attack with figures of 3/48, while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each, restricting Australia to 264 in 49.3 overs.

In response, Virat Kohli's commanding 84, along with Shreyas Iyer's 45 and KL Rahul's unbeaten 42, helped India chase down the target with 11 balls to spare. Kohli has been India's leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 217 runs in four matches. Iyer (195 runs) and vice-captain Shubman Gill (157 runs) have also made significant contributions.

With the ball, Shami has been India's standout performer, claiming eight wickets, while Chakravarthy has taken seven scalps. The Indian team topped Group A with victories over Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, showcasing their dominance on the slow, turning tracks of Dubai.

Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak credited the team's preparation and consistency, dismissing suggestions that playing all their matches in Dubai had given them an unfair advantage. "The draw that happened, it happened before," Kotak said. "After India winning four matches, if people feel that there is an advantage, then I don't know what to say about it."

Kotak emphasised that good cricket was the only advantage in play: "End of the day, I think in a game, you have to play good cricket every day when you turn up. So the only thing they (critics) may say is that we play here. But that is how the draw is."

New Zealand's path to the final

New Zealand secured their place in the final by defeating South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore. Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (102) scored centuries, leading the Kiwis to a formidable 362/6. South Africa's David Miller hit the fastest century in Champions Trophy history, but the Proteas fell short in their chase.

Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand finished second in Group A behind India. They began their campaign with a 60-run win over Pakistan and followed it up with a five-wicket victory against Bangladesh before suffering a 44-run loss to India.

The Kiwis will hope to draw on past successes against India in major finals, including their victory in the 2000 Champions Trophy (then known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy) and the 2021 World Test Championship.

Williamson remained optimistic: "Obviously it was a long time ago and a great victory for our country. Here, now, lots of things are different ... we'll be changing our focus quickly to this next match, which is an exciting opportunity for us."

New Zealand's spin attack, featuring Santner, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Ravindra, could be a crucial factor on the Dubai pitch. "Obviously the surface will dictate a bit of how we want to operate," Santner said. "It might be a little bit slower than what we're going to get in Lahore. So it might be more of a scrap. But we're down to scrap."

Injury concern for New Zealand

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over pacer Matt Henry's availability for the final. Henry injured his right shoulder while taking a catch in the semi-final but managed to return and bowl two more overs. Head coach Gary Stead expressed cautious optimism: "We've had some scans and stuff done on him and we're going to give him every chance to be playing in this match. So still a little bit unknown at this stage."

Henry has been instrumental for New Zealand, including his 5-42 against India in the group stage. His fitness could significantly impact New Zealand's chances of neutralising India's in-form batting lineup.

Venue debate and India's perceived advantage

The decision to play all of India's matches in Dubai due to political tensions with hosts Pakistan has sparked controversy. The tournament's schedule required other teams to shuttle between Pakistan and the UAE, which South Africa's David Miller described as "not an ideal situation." Even Pakistan, the nominal hosts, had to travel to Dubai to play against India.

However, New Zealand head coach Stead played down the issue: "I mean, look, the decision around that's out of our hands. So, it's not something we worry about too much. India have got to play all their games here in Dubai. But as you said, we have had a game here and we'll learn very quickly from that experience there as well."

India's dominance in Dubai has been built on mastering the conditions, with coach Gautam Gambhir focusing on maintaining momentum. "We still have one more game to go," he said. "We know we're a good one-day side. The most important thing is the way we've played throughout this competition. The hunger, the commitment and the eagerness to try and do something special for the country is always there."

A clash of Champions Trophy history

India and New Zealand have met twice before in the Champions Trophy, with each side winning once. The Black Caps' victory in the 2000 final remains their only title in the competition, while India shared the 2002 title with Sri Lanka and won outright in 2013.

India hold a 61-50 advantage in ODI head-to-heads, with one match tied and seven producing no results. However, the stakes are higher in a final, and New Zealand's history of upsetting India in major finals cannot be overlooked.

As the cricketing world gears up for the final, both teams will be aware that history and form only matter until the first ball is bowled. As Kotak noted, "We should just try and turn up and play a good game of cricket because there is no use thinking about the last match."

For New Zealand, the focus will be on adapting quickly and bringing their best game. "If we're good enough to beat India on Sunday, then I'm sure we'll be very, very happy," Stead concluded.

The showdown in Dubai promises a thrilling contest, with India looking to make history and New Zealand aiming to flip the script once again.