In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9 (Sunday) at the Dubai International Stadium, India will face off against New Zealand in a high-stakes match between the event’s top two teams. After India thumped New Zealand by 44 runs in the league stage at the same location, this will be their second sweep in two weeks. Notwithstanding that victory, history is a formidable foe for the Indian side.
India Has Psychological Astros First League Stage Triumph
Thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s fifty and Varun Chakravarty’s five-wicket haul, India bounced back from an early collapse to a strong total in their last match. The victory has brought Rohit Sharma’s team a psychological advantage over their opponents going into the last match.
India’s Battles with New Zealand in ICC Finals
Though India could go into the last with confidence, history has not been good to them against New Zealand in ICC finals. India lost to New Zealand in Nairobi in 2000, under Stephen Fleming. That was the last Champions Trophy final the two teams met. Although Sourav Ganguly made a century, New Zealand won thanks to Chris Cairns’ hundred match.
The 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) last, where Kane Williamson’s New Zealand defeated Virat Kohli’s India on a reserve day in Southampton to take the first WTC title, is one more painful memory for Indian followers.
In ICC finals, New Zealand has a mixed record.
The 2000 Champions Trophy and the 2021 WTC title are the only two ICC trophies New Zealand has won. They have suffered letdowns in many different ICC finals as well in the past:
2019 ODI World Cup—Lost to England in an thrilling Super Over
Champions Trophy 2009 – Beaten by Australia
2015 ODI World Cup – Beaten by Australia
2021 T20 World Cup—Australia defeated
Rare Last India Wins Over New Zealand
Only once in history has India emerged victorious in a final against New Zealand—the 1988 Sharjah Cup, where Ravi Shastri’s team won against John Wright’s squad by 52 runs. New Zealand came first in a tri-series final in 2005.
India vs New Zealand: A Look at Their Final Clashes in Major Tournaments
| Tournament | Venue | Match Result | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Cup | Sharjah Cricket Ground | India Won By 42 Runs | 1988 |
| ICC Champions Trophy (ICC Knockout Cup) | Gymkhana Cricket Club, Nairobi | New Zealand Won By Four Wickets | 2000 |
| Tri-Series in Zimbabwe | Harare Cricket Club | New Zealand Won By Six Wickets | 2005 |
| World Test Championship | Rose Bowl, Southampton | New Zealand Won By Eight Wickets | 2021 |
Head to Head stats: India vs. New Zealand
Total ODIs: 119 games → India (61 victories), New Zealand (49 victories), 9 no results
Champions Trophy Matches: 2 matches each.In ICC ODI Events (World Cup + Champions Trophy), 10 games will be won by each club.
ICC White-Ball Competitions (World Cup, Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup) : 13 games → New Zealand leads 8Ins.
Can India Rewrite History? “Breaking the Jinx:
India has never defeated New Zealand in an ICC final, so the 2025 Champions Trophy final offers a perfect chance to turn that circumstance. India will seek to break the 37-year-old curse and win the sought-after trophy with strong shape, a well-balanced team, and current momentum.
On March 9 in Dubai, the answer will be there: can India at last break the curse or will history repeat itself?
