India is attempting to break a 37-year-old streak as they face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. Team India is the favorite, having won seven consecutive ODIs leading up to the final. However, India’s record against New Zealand in tournament finals is not favorable. In fact, the Indian team has not defeated the Kiwis in an international cricket final since 1988. India and New Zealand have competed in two major senior ICC event finals, with New Zealand winning both times. Overall, New Zealand leads India 3-1 in international cricket finals.
The first New Zealand victory occurred in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Cup final (the previous name for the Champions Trophy), which remains New Zealand’s only ICC white-ball final win. In that instance, New Zealand defeated India by four wickets in a close match.
More recently, New Zealand also defeated India in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final.
In between, New Zealand also won a tri-series final against India in 2005, which also included Zimbabwe.
Therefore, the last time India beat New Zealand in a final was in the Sharjah Cup final in 1988. In that game, India won by 52 runs with Ravi Shastri playing a significant role.
It has been 37 years since India last defeated New Zealand in a final in international cricket. Should India win against New Zealand in this final, it would be their first victory against them in an ICC event final.
It would also ensure India becomes the sole record holder of the Champions Trophy. Having won it twice before (2002 and 2013), India currently shares the record with Australia.
India has already defeated New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025, winning their Group A match. In that game, New Zealand failed to chase a target of 250, as Varun Chakravarthy took five wickets.
The key for New Zealand in the final will be to handle India’s four quality spinners. New Zealand showed strong batting performance in the semi-final against South Africa.
They will be aiming for a third consecutive ICC final win over India and to extend their winning streak in finals.
