For the first time in 25 years, India and New Zealand will face off in a major white-ball cricket competition final. With a resounding victory over South Africa in Wednesday's second semi-final in Lahore, New Zealand guaranteed their spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 final. The Black Caps will now once again be facing India in the final of an ICC tournament on Sunday in Dubai.
India defeated Australia by four wickets in Dubai on Tuesday, becoming the first team to secure a position in the final. When New Zealand plays Rohit Sharma and his team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, they will have the chance to exact revenge for their most recent Group A loss to India.
Mitchell Santner on IND vs NZ Final
Santner was happy with the challenge they got before they head back to Dubai. He also said the last match against India where they lost, was also good to put them under pressure. He also said that he would like to win the toss in the final against the Men in Blue.
"It's a pretty good feeling, today we were challenged by a good side, we will head to Dubai where we already faced India earlier. We will rest and will go again. It was holding a bit in the first innings but Rachin and WIlliiamson set the stage and the guys finishing it put the icing on the cake. We took wickets in the middle overs and made it tough for the opposition. What we speak as a group is to apply pressure and take wickets in the middle. Michael Bracewell bowled really well in the last game to take a 4-fer. It was really pleasing for me to take three scalps today. It makes my job easier, we have four all-rounders who can bowl spin and they can bat as well," said Santner in the post-match presentation.
"Rachin's five overs were great, have to wait and see how Matt Henry's shoulder is. It's a bit sore, we have to wait for a couple of days and see. (On Williamson) He keeps doing it, that partnership was massive for us, he was able to keep going in the middle phase, South Africa challenged us but we were able to cash in and score 360. We felt 320 might not be enough. (On their loss against India in Dubai) Being there and being put under pressure was good. I think the bowlers bowled well to chip wickets at the top. I think winning the toss will be nice as well," he added.
India and New Zealand have previously faced each other in the finals of the ICC competition twice. In the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton, where a Kane Williamson-led New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in a six-day encounter marred by rain, they last faced each other in a championship match. It is interesting to note that the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy in Nairobi was the last time these two sides faced off in a white-ball event final. That time, New Zealand won their maiden ICC title after defeating India by four wickets.
