India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy last: Can Mitchell Santner’s underdogs beat Rohit Sharma’s title favourites?

This Sunday’s Champions Trophy match is a repeat of final Sunday’s Champions Trophy match – though New Zealand will hope it doesn’t find yourself an actual reproduction.

The Black Caps slipped to a 44-run defeat to India in Dubai final weekend within the last group recreation of the competitors.

Now the perimeters are assembly once more within the last. Identical day of the week, identical venue and with many anticipating the identical end result.

India have received all 4 of their fixtures within the event, all of which have been held in Dubai with the staff not despatched to host nation Pakistan as a result of longstanding political tensions.

They haven’t needed to board a aircraft – in contrast to New Zealand, who’ve performed at 4 totally different stadiums – permitting them to acclimatise to 1 set of situations. Plus, most would say they’ve the very best XI.

Whereas India want to clinch their second international white-ball title in 9 months, after the 2024 T20 World Cup, New Zealand are aiming to safe their first in 25 years, though do not let that second statistic idiot you. The Kiwis are all the time there or thereabouts.

They could not have tasted white-ball glory because the Champions Trophy in 2000 however they’ve reached 5 finals between then and now (two within the 50-over World Cup, one within the T20 World Cup and two within the Champions Trophy) in addition to oodles of semi-finals.

“They outperform and exploit their resources,” says Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton.

Do not write off underdogs New Zealand

As is usually the case for this New Zealand staff, although, they discover themselves within the function of underdogs – however ones that may definitely chunk a pedigree India within the rematch per week on.

Rohit Sharma’s costs solely must look again a number of months to see how harmful their opponents may be – the Black Caps recording a 3-0 Check sweep within the subcontinent as India misplaced a red-ball collection at house for the primary time since England beat them in 2012.

The 50-run win over South Africa in Wednesday’s semi-final confirmed what New Zealand are about. Scientific, elegant and composed – besides for his or her demise bowling, which was ragged.

Tons from ‘future nice’ Rachin Ravindra – whose 5 ODI tons of have all are available ICC occasions (two on this event, three within the 2023 World Cup) – and established nice Kane Williamson underpinned a complete of 362-6 however the gloss was added by dynamic fifties from Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell within the last overs.

Captain Mitchell Santner then wheeled away in that unassuming approach of his, choosing up 3-43 together with his wily left-arm spin because the Proteas have been restricted to 312-9 in reply.

The skipper eliminated set batters Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen for half-centuries after an enormous second-wicket stand after which had the doubtless game-changing Heinrich Klaasen caught within the deep for 3 amid a South Africa hunch of 6-57.

But, that Klaasen wicket might have come at a price for New Zealand with premier seamer Matt Henry jarring his shoulder taking the catch and now a possible doubt for the ultimate.

That might be an enormous blow for the Black Caps with Henry – who vaporised England’s Zak Crawley time after time within the pre-Christmas Check collection – bagging 5-42 towards India within the group part, together with Kohli for 11 as Phillips took a jaw-dropping catch at backward level, and a number one 10 wickets within the event.

Talking two days out from the ultimate, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead stated of Henry: “We’ve had some scans done on him, and we’re going to give him every chance to be playing. It’s still a little bit unknown but we’re hopeful he will be okay.”

India have all bases lined, together with chase ace Kohli

New Zealand maybe want Henry to be match to win. They may want some extra magic from Phillips within the area. In fact, they in all probability must have the right recreation. They usually definitely want their demise bowling to be higher than it was towards South Africa.

In Lahore earlier this week, David Miller latched onto some wayward deliveries from seamers Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, spanked 48 from the final three overs and helped himself to a 67-ball century. If New Zealand are as free in that facet of the sport towards India, then Hardik Pandya, for one, might have an absolute area day.

India’s demise bowling impressed of their four-wicket semi-final win over Australia – Rohit’s males limiting their opponents to simply 66 runs from the ultimate 13 overs as soon as Steve Smith was bowled by Mohammed Shami for 73 after charging down the pitch.

Certain, India weren’t bowling at a number of established run-scorers then – Glenn Maxwell’s dismissal within the following over to Smith’s meant Alex Carey was the one batter of reputation left standing in the direction of the top – and so weren’t examined as they could have been.

However there have been few events on this event when the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah has been keenly felt. Maybe solely towards Bangladesh and Pakistan when wickets have been proving onerous to return by within the center overs.

Nonetheless, the injury towards Bangladesh had already been achieved with the Tigers initially limping to 37-5 and the wickets arrived ultimately versus Pakistan as their rivals lastly appeared to speed up after a ponderous batting efficiency.

India possess match-winners all through. Shami main the cost seam-wise after which 4 very totally different spinners – Varun Chakravarthy, who took 5-42 towards New Zealand within the group-stage encounter, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

Shubman Gill averages 60 with the bat, Virat Kohli is the best batter in ODI run chases there has arguably ever been, and Hardik allies energy with the blade to refined adjustments of tempo with the ball.

KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Axar have made essential batting contributions as properly, whereas Rohit – like Kohli, a legend of this format – knits every part collectively as captain and units the tone together with his aggressive batting on the high of the order.

Gill informed reporters on the eve of the ultimate: “I think this is the best batting line-up I have been part of. The depth has made life easier for the top-batsmen, it allows us to play with so much freedom.”

India favourites – however is historical past on New Zealand’s facet?

India are clear favourites. However that was additionally the case going into the 2023 World Cup last towards Australia in Ahmedabad and so they have been duly humbled, mainly by a gifted left-handed top-order batter in Travis Head and whip-smart captain in Pat Cummins.

Might historical past repeat itself with Ravindra and Santner taking part in the roles of Head and Cummins respectively?

New Zealand will imagine, primarily as a result of they’d India 30-3 per week in the past, did them in Check cricket months in the past, beat them within the World Check Championship last 4 years in the past and defeated them within the World Cup semi-finals six years in the past – but additionally as a result of a sporting quirk could also be about to materialise.

Again within the 12 months 2000, New Zealand received the Champions Trophy by beating India within the last, a number of months earlier than their ladies’s facet secured their maiden 50-over World Cup crown.

Now, a number of months after their ladies’s staff clinched their first T20 World Cup title, the boys discover themselves in one other Champions Trophy last. towards India. Maybe it is meant to be…

This underdog simply might need its day.

Watch the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy last between India and New Zealand reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion from 8.30am on Sunday (9am first ball).