This would be for the fourth time, India will meet New Zealand in an ICC event final. On the previous three occasions, New Zealand have won twice and India once. If India win tonight in the T20 World Cup final at Ahmedabad, they will draw parity.
Both teams have lost one match each in the tournament against the same opposition (South Africa) at this venue. India would look to leave behind the loss they suffered against Australia in the 2023 World Cup, when they take field on Sunday.
Let’s take a look at the three summit clashes between India and New Zealand in ICC tournaments.
ICC Knockout final, 2000
The inaugural edition of what is presently the ICC Champions Trophy, saw India and New Zealand in the final in Nairobi. Put in to bat first, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (69 off 83 balls) put up a 141-run partnership and looked set for a 300-plus total. Skipper Ganguly scored 117 of 130 balls, which till date is the only century scored by an Indian batter in an ICC tournament.
After Ganguly fell with India’s score at 220, the middle-order failed to keep the scoring rate and were restricted to 264 for 6. New Zealand lost early wickets in the run-chase and were 37 for 2, but the 45-run stand between Nathan Astle (37 off 48 balls) and Roger Twose (31 off 35 balls) steadied the ship. Anil Kumble then struck by reducing New Zealand to 135 for 5, until Chris Cairns arrived at the crease and took the game away from India with a counter-attack knock of 102 off 113 balls. He was well-supported by Chris Harris (46) as New Zealand clinched a four-wicket win with two balls remaining.
ICC World Test Championship final, 2021
With Virat Kohli as Test captain, India were favourites to win the ICC World Test Championship mace, if not for the bowling-friendly conditions in Southampton. New Zealand were lucky to win the toss, who put India to bat first. Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (49) played gritty knocks before India were bowled out for 217. Kyle Jamieson ripped through India’s batting with figures of 5 for 31.
India bowlers too made good use of the pitch and conditions as Mohammed Shami with a four-wicket haul and Ishant Sharma with three scalps bowled New Zealand out for 249, giving them a 32-run first innings lead. Devon Conway (54) and skipper Williamson (49) made an impact with the bat.
India batters failed to handle the pace battery of Tim Southee (4/48) and Trent Boult (3/39) and were all out for 170 in their second innings, setting New Zealand a target of 139 runs to win. Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47) remained unbeaten to chase down the target with eight wickets remaining. Jamieson was the Player of the Match for his seven wickets in the match, including a five-for in the first innings.
ICC Champions Trophy final, 2025
New Zealand managed to score 251 for 7, batting first on a slow pitch in Dubai. Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (53* off 40 balls) scored two contrasting half-centuries. For India, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy picked two wickets each.
India started off the run-chase well with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (31) putting up a 110-run partnership. Virat Kohli was dismissed for one but Rohit held the innings together and struck 76 off 83 balls. He fell at India’s score of 122.
Then a partnership of 61 runs between Shreyas Iyer (48 off 62 balls) Axar Patel (29 off 40 balls) took India closer to the target. Later, KL (34* off 33 balls) and Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 18 runs guided India to a four-wicket win. India broke the drought of ICC titles by winning two trophies, first the T20 World Cup in 2024, followed by the Champions Trophy few months later.
