India vs New Zealand 


 Cricket fans around the world witnessed an epic battle as India and New Zealand faced off in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9, 2025. Both teams came into the match in top form, setting the stage for an intense contest. In the end, India emerged victorious, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a nail-biting finish.

Toss and Team Selection

New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, considering the slow nature of the Dubai pitch. The Kiwis went with their regular playing XI, relying on captain Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Trent Boult to lead the charge. India, led by Rohit Sharma, made no changes to their squad, banking on their strong batting lineup and an in-form bowling attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.

New Zealand’s Innings – A Steady Start, But Middle-Order Collapse

New Zealand's openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen provided a solid start, putting up a 50-run partnership in the first 10 overs. However, India’s fast bowlers made an impact soon after:

Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Finn Allen (28) with a perfect inswinging yorker.

Mohammed Siraj removed Kane Williamson (17), trapping him LBW.

At 05/3 in 22 overs, New Zealand needed a big partnership. Daryl Mitchell (45) and Tom Latham (39) played crucial knocks, steering New Zealand past the 200-run mark. However, India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja tightened their grip in the middle overs.

Kuldeep took 3/43, dismissing Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Latham.

New Zealand collapsed from 190/4 to 252 all out in 48.3 overs, with Bumrah cleaning up the tail.

Top Performers (New Zealand Batting):

Devon Conway – 52 (67)

Daryl Mitchell – 45 (50)

Tom Latham – 39 (41)

Best Indian Bowlers:

Jasprit Bumrah – 4/38

Kuldeep Yadav – 3/43

Mohammed Siraj – 2/47

India’s Run Chase – A Tense but Successful Pursuit

Chasing 253, India had a shaky start as Trent Boult struck early, removing Shubman Gill (8) and Virat Kohli (12) inside the first 10 overs. At 35/2, the match looked balanced, but captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer took charge.

Rohit played a fluent knock of 58 (65) before being dismissed by Matt Henry.

Iyer and KL Rahul steadied the innings with a 75-run partnership.

Rahul, in particular, played a match-winning innings, scoring 72 off 85 balls under pressure.

New Zealand’s pacers, led by Trent Boult (3/45) and Tim Southee (2/42), kept the game alive, taking wickets at regular intervals. At 210/6 in 43 overs, India still needed 43 runs off 42 balls.

That’s when Ravindra Jadeja (35) and Hardik Pandya (22)** finished the job with a composed partnership, sealing the win in 49 overs.

Top Performers (India Batting):

KL Rahul – 72 (85)

Rohit Sharma – 58 (65)

Ravindra Jadeja – 35* (28)

Best New Zealand Bowlers:

Trent Boult – 3/45

Tim Southee – 2/42

Matt Henry – 1/48

Match Summary & Key Takeaways

India won by 4 wickets, chasing down 253 in 49 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah (4/38) and KL Rahul (72) were the heroes of the match.

India lifted their third ICC Champions Trophy title, adding to their 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013 triumphs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final?

India defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in the final held in Dubai.

Who was the Man of the Match in IND vs NZ final?

KL Rahul won the Man of the Match award for his crucial 72-run innings.

How did New Zealand perform in the final?

New Zealand put up 252 runs but failed to defend the total as India chased it successfully.

Who took the most wickets in the final?

Jasprit Bumrah took 4 wickets (4/38) for India, dismantling New Zealand’s batting.

What is India’s next cricket tournament?

India’s next tournament schedule is yet to be officially announced.

The India vs New Zealand final was an exciting match filled with ups and downs. While New Zealand fought hard with the bat and ball, India’s all-round performance, led by KL Rahul, Bumrah, and Jadeja, ensured another ICC trophy victory. This triumph solidified India’s dominance in world cricket and gave fans another memorable moment to celebrate.