India is set to compete against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai on March 9, aiming to make history by becoming the tournament’s record holders. However, historical precedent is not in India’s favor, as they have never defeated New Zealand in a final of a major ICC event. A victory for India would break a 37-year drought of not winning an international cricket final against the Kiwis. Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, has stressed that New Zealand will be a formidable opponent in the upcoming final.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain quoted Aaron Finch’s assessment: “New Zealand is a team that never defeats itself. They consistently deliver strong performances.” Hussain emphasized this point, stating that New Zealand’s strength lies in their mental fortitude and consistent execution.
New Zealand has a history of performing well against India in major ICC tournament finals, having won both encounters so far. The first victory was in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Cup final, the precursor to the Champions Trophy, in a closely contested match. The second instance was more recent, with New Zealand overcoming India in 2021 to claim the World Test Championship title.
Hussain further elaborated on New Zealand’s strengths: “Throughout their team, they possess resilient cricketers who consistently perform at their peak. This is why they are frequently contenders in semi-finals and finals.”
New Zealand’s consistent performance in 50-over tournaments over the last decade includes reaching the finals of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
Hussain pointed out that New Zealand’s danger also comes from their blend of experienced players and emerging talent. He mentioned Kane Williamson as an established great and Rachin Ravindra as an example of the team’s youthful energy.
In conclusion, Hussain stated, “They might be defeated, but if they are, it will be because India played better.”
In their previous encounter at the Champions Trophy 2025, during the final Group A match, India successfully defended a score of 249 against New Zealand. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout player in that game, taking five wickets.
