When India and New Zealand meet in an ICC knockout, expect drama, expect nerves, and expect a battle that cricket fans will talk about for years to come
India and New Zealand have produced some of cricket's most intense knockout battles, and they will do so again in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India advanced to the final after outclassing Australia in the semifinals, while New Zealand defeated South Africa.
This is no ordinary final; it represents a showdown between two cricketing giants with a history of electrifying encounters in ICC events. Their ODI head-to-head record currently stands at 119 matches, with India winning 61 and New Zealand securing 50.
However, the competition becomes significantly more intense when it comes to ICC knockout matches. Let us revisit the historic clashes that have shaped this burgeoning rivalry.
India faced New Zealand in their inaugural Champions Trophy final in Nairobi in 2000. India started strongly with a 141-run partnership between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, aiming for an impressive total. However, New Zealand's bowlers restricted India to 264/6, a competitive but not commanding score.
Despite suffering from a strained knee, Chris Cairns played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 102 off 113 balls. With two deliveries remaining, he led New Zealand to their first ICC title, leaving the Indians devastated. This match highlighted New Zealand's resilience in ICC knockout tournaments and illustrated how quickly a final can shift for India.
In 2019, India faced New Zealand in a two-day rain-soaked World Cup semifinal. India dominated the group stages, while New Zealand advanced narrowly. On a sluggish pitch, New Zealand batted first, scoring just 239/8, with Kane Williamson (67) and Ross Taylor (74) being key contributors. The target was within reach, but India quickly faltered to 5/3 in four overs, instigating panic.
Ravindra Jadeja (77 off 59) and MS Dhoni (50 off 72) mounted a comeback, but India's chase crumbled in the closing overs. Martin Guptill's superb direct hit dismissed Dhoni, shattering India's hopes, as New Zealand triumphed by 18 runs to reach the final.
In 2021, Southampton, England, faced another heartbreak in the WTC final. New Zealand's pace attack, led by Kyle Jamieson (5/31 and 2/30), thwarted India's efforts. Despite commendable performances from Virat Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (49), India could only muster scores of 217 and 170, respectively.
New Zealand easily chased down 139 in the fourth innings, with Kane Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47) steering them to victory. This decisive win secured New Zealand's first ICC Test title, underscoring their dominance over India.
After three ICC heartbreaks, India finally triumphed at Wankhede in 2023. Batting first, India obliterated New Zealand's bowlers, amassing 397/4, the highest total in a World Cup quarter-final. Virat Kohli (117), Shreyas Iyer (105), and Rohit Sharma's explosive start overwhelmed the Kiwis.
New Zealand retaliated with Daryl Mitchell's century (134 off 119), but Mohammed Shami's remarkable 7/57 sealed the victory, propelling India to the final by 70 runs. This was the moment India yearned for—retribution for 2019 and redemption for 2021, solidifying this rivalry as an actual contest.
