Champions Trophy: Experts Predict India vs New Zealand Final Will Be ‘Nail-Biting’ Match

March 8, 2025: Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand in Dubai, former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla shared his views on the high-stakes match, describing it as a “nail-biter.”

India, who are undefeated in the tournament, will face a resilient New Zealand team led by Mitchell Santner. Both teams have displayed impressive performances throughout the competition, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9.

While discussing the game, Shukla highlighted India’s strong performance under captain Rohit Sharma. “India is performing very well under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. The balance of our team is very good. We cannot take New Zealand lightly because their performance is also outstanding. The final match will be nail-biting,” Shukla said.

The upcoming final promises to be an exciting sequel to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, where New Zealand claimed the title. India, however, will be looking to avenge their losses to the Blackcaps in both the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.

Kapil Dev Pandey, former coach of Kuldeep Yadav, also shared his insights ahead of the final. He praised the performances of key players like Shreyas Iyer and Mohammad Shami during the tournament. “This is a very important match for the players and also for the countrymen. Our team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is performing very well. Virat Kohli is in good form… Shreyas Iyer is also playing very well. The partnership should be nice. If we bat first, our runs on the scoreboard should be more than 300. If we bowl first, we must stop the opponent at 240-260… Mohammad Shami is the best bowler we have,” Pandey said.

Iyer has been in exceptional form, scoring 1,773 runs in 40 innings at an average of 52.14, with four centuries and 12 fifties. This year, he has accumulated 376 runs in seven ODIs at an average of 53.71 and a strike rate of 96.16.

Mohammad Shami has also been a standout performer, taking key wickets throughout the tournament. With figures of 3/48 in India’s victory over Australia, Shami has now taken eight wickets in four matches at an average of 19.88, placing him second on the list of highest wicket-takers in the competition.

As India gears up for the final, both Shukla and Pandey emphasize the importance of the team’s balance and individual contributions. The final match promises to be a tense and exciting affair, as both teams vie for the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy title.