Champions Trophy 2025: India vs New Zealand, Final Showdown – Top 3 Key Player Clashes to Watch

India (IND), the two-time Champions Trophy champions, and New Zealand (NZ), the first-ever ICC title winners, will face off at the summit. The game will be played in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.

Notably, in the Champions Trophy 2025 edition, the Men in Blue have not lost.

They have struggled to defeat the Blackcaps in an ICC knockout match, despite having a better head-to-head record in ODI encounters. Rohit and company will have the chance to ultimately get beyond yet another challenge.

Even though the Kiwi squad lost their most recent group stage match against the Indian team, they still put on amazing displays against South Africa in the semi-final. Additionally, they will be vying for their second white ball ICC championship, which they previously achieved 25 years ago in 2000.

The following three player contests for the Champions Trophy 2025 Final are intriguing:

1. Ravindra Jadeja vs Tom Lathum

There will be a match to see between India’s dependable spin bowling all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, and New Zealand’s star batsman, Tom Latham. Despite this, Latham is renowned for being a superb spinner and an effective middle order player. Nevertheless, he might have a difficult fight against Jadeja, who excels at this stage of the game.

Regarding the two players’ head-to-head record, in 50-over cricket, Ravindra Jadeja has dismissed the left-hander twice. Latham has a strike rate of just 87 and only averages 10 against Jadeja.

2. Mitchell Santner vs KL Rahul

Another contest between a left-arm spinner and a wicketkeeper that could decide the outcome of the match. It will be exciting to watch Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, face KL Rahul, who is perhaps the greatest spin bowler in the Indian squad. Santner is also regarded as one of the most effective bowlers in the middle overs.

In ODI cricket, Santner has been effective against the Indian batsman, dismissing him twice. Rahul averages just 24.5 and has only scored 49 runs against him thus far. Santner is one of the bowlers he will like to target in the forthcoming Champions Trophy final match since the stunning strokemaker has assumed the role of finisher at number six.

3.  Mohammed Shami vs Kane Williamson

As a current confirmed icon in New Zealand cricket, Kane Williamson has relished playing against the Indian team, but he may have trouble against Mohammed Shami, the Indian seam bowling star. There have been some epic clashes for the fiery pacer in the past.

Interestingly, veteran batsman Kane Williamson amassed 83 runs at an average of 27.7 against the pacer. In the 50-over format, Mohammed Shami has removed the 34-year-old batsman three times. Therefore, even if he has been playing well so far, Shami will aim to defeat him once more.