India vs New Zealand, Final ICC Champions Trophy, 2025
“This is far and away the greatest moment of my New Zealand career” said Cairns after he led New Zealand to victory 25 years ago and it’s a sentiment that will likely be echoed by some of the Kiwis should they win tonight. In the other camp, both the sweet success of glory and the heartbreak of defeat lives in recent memory. For India, the motive to win will be as much about experiencing the ecstasy of victory as it will be about avoiding the agony of defeat.
India hold the advantage - so much was established when they soundly beat New Zealand in the group-stage. If New Zealand are to prevent that game from being a mere precursor to this final, their batters will need to demonstrate substantial fortifications to endure India’s spin siege. Undoubtedly, lots of midnight oil would’ve been burned to that end and it’ll come down to execution. The surface being used today is the same as the one that was used for the India-Pakistan clash. That was a fortnight ago and a typically slow and dry Dubai surface would’ve likely changed little. For India, it’s about repeating a process that’s worked so well for them one last time.
What went wrong for New Zealand in that game is what’s gone right for India all along. Their spinners have been a cut above the rest and the addition of Varun Chakaravarthy, who was the architect of New Zealand’s downfall the other night, has turned a threatening triumvirate to a fearsome quartet. The feeling of relief and joy millions experienced upon Virat Kohli’s return to form was only compounded by the sense of redemption they felt after India beat Australia in the semi-final. A faultless run through the group-stage, where they beat Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand quite comfortably, followed by their win over Australia in the semi-final has meant India arrive into this final unbeaten.
New Zealand cricket are riding a certain updraft at the moment. The Test side whitewashed India in India, the women won the T20 World Cup and then this team got the closest thing they could get to a headstart after they swept the tri-series in Pakistan in the lead-up to this tournament. They beat Pakistan and Bangladesh comfortably in the group-stage and their win over South Africa in the semi-final was nothing but clinical. Their batters have been in marvellous touch, their two spinners have held up their end of the bargain, Matt Henry (about who’s fitness we’ll know about soon) has spearheaded the pace-bowling attack to great effect and their fielding has been unmatched. The only point of discussion heading into the final then would be their loss to India in the group-stage.
11:30 Local Time, 07:30 GMT, 13:00 IST: The year is 2000 and on an October morning at Nairobi, India are taking on New Zealand in the final off the ICC Knockout Trophy. India get off to a breezy start. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar are in great flow and by the halfway mark, India are looking at a total in excess of 300 - a bold and seldom breached total at that time. But New Zealand pull it back, or so it seems as India seize control once more. Defending 265, they have New Zealand down 135/5 after 25 overs but even before dusk closes in at the Gymkhana, Chris Cairns’ 102* sees New Zealand through to not just a win but also to their maiden ICC Trophy. Cut to 25 years later and these two sides are gearing up to face each other once more. It’s a different time in a different world, in fact, the very tournament they’re contesting for bears a different moniker but the essence and the emotion endures. The tenacity and grit that New Zealand displayed that night could well be the same virtues that set these teams apart tonigh