India Set to Face New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy Final
Unbeaten India will take on the resilient New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy this Sunday in Dubai. This highly anticipated match will crown a new champion after nearly eight years.
India, who lost to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, are now aiming for their third consecutive title appearance, marking an unprecedented achievement as the first team to reach the Champions Trophy final in three successive editions. In their previous encounter, India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs, maintaining their perfect record in the group stages, while finishing atop Group A with three wins. India later advanced to the final after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the semifinal.
On the other hand, New Zealand made a strong start to the tournament, securing a win against defending champions Pakistan in Karachi, followed by a split result in their subsequent matches against Bangladesh and India. They reached the final after defeating South Africa by 50 runs in the semifinal, setting up a showdown with India.
The final promises to be a nail-biting contest as both teams have shown exceptional form. However, New Zealand holds a superior record in ICC knockout encounters, with a 3-1 edge over India in their previous four meetings across various formats.
India vs New Zealand in ICC Knockout Matches:
India and New Zealand have faced off in four ICC knockout matches. New Zealand leads 3-1 in this head-to-head record. Their encounters include:
- The 2000 Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand won by chasing down 265 with a match-winning century by Chris Cairns.
- The 2019 and 2023 World Cup semifinals, and the 2021 World Test Championship final, where New Zealand defeated India to claim the WTC title. India’s lone win in this rivalry came in the 2023 World Cup semifinal, where they bested New Zealand to secure a place in the final.
India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ODIs:
In 119 ODI encounters, India holds a 61-50 lead over New Zealand, with one match ending in a tie and seven games having no result.
As the stage is set for another epic final, fans are eagerly waiting to see which team will come out on top and lift the coveted ICC Champions Trophy.
