India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India captain Rohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli during a practice session in Dubai
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Twelve days on from when they opened the tournament’s group stages with a match against one side of the great subcontinental rivalry, New Zealand are set to conclude this portion of the ICC Champions Trophy with a contest against the other. Both India and New Zealand have already qualified for the knockout round of the Champions Trophy, and all is that left to decide is who will finish first and who will finish second – which team will play Australia, and which one will face South Africa?…Read More
New Zealand will travel to Dubai, which has already proven to be an advantage for India as it acts almost as their proxy home base (how much of an advantage depends on who you ask.) The Kiwis have gone about their business efficiently and with no fuss, as has been their way in ICC tournaments for many years now. An opening win in Karachi against Pakistan was a strong start, thanks to dual centuries by Will Young and Tom Latham, while Rachin Ravindra continued his golden touch in ICC tournaments as he announced his return with a fine century of his own against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. New Zealand’s batting has been consistent as ever, and they have had the boost of their spinners stepping up massively to add that dynamic to their bowling, with skipper Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell both impressing.
India have meanwhile spent a week in Dubai, all but certain of their progression since Virat Kohli brought up his 82nd international century with the winning runs against Pakistan last Sunday. It was a clinical and unsurprisingly dominant performance by India, who have played to match their status as the strongest team in this tournament. Add that to their win over Bangladesh, supercharged by Mohammed Shami announcing his return with a five-fer and Shubman Gill’s imperious century, and you find a team that is confident and in the groove. They will be aware this is their biggest challenge so far, and that they have a quick turnaround to the semifinal regardless of what result they produce.
India have made two chases look relatively straightforward on pitches that have honestly looked better for the team batting first, which speaks both to this unit’s ability to control the run-scoring of the opposition thanks to their three world-class spinners through the middle, as well as the comfort they feel chasing with a deep batting lineup. The quality of their top four is unmatched in the tournament, and has meant that the likes of KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and spin-twins Jadeja and Axar haven’t even been called on so far. India might want to bat first and try out their capabilities setting up and defending a total, but Rohit Sharma will be hoping for a reversal of misfortune at the toss which has led him to lose all 12 of the tosses going back to the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Speaking of that tournament, both these teams will remember freshly what happened when they faced off at the Wankhede Stadium in the semifinals of that tournament. India set up a massive first innings total of 397, thanks to a fast start by Rohit and Gill, Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 50th ODI century with Sachin in attendance, and a late explosion by centurion Shreyas Iyer plus a bonus flurry of runs from the bat of KL Rahul. That match was an illustration of how this Indian batting can explode, capable of adding quick runs at both ends of an innings, thanks to the middle order’s ability to preserve their wickets while also scoring at a healthy rate through the middle. If you’re looking to create an ODI batting performance from scratch, especially in an important game, India have already perfected the template.
Of course, there was slightly concern from New Zealand’s own batting performance, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell putting together a fast partnership of 181 runs before Mohammed Shami returned to break the partnership, ending up with an incredible performance of 7-57. Expected to carry the brunt of the bowling attack on this occasion, with both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj missing from this tournament. Will Shami be able to have the same impact if he’s asked to bowl up front, sharing duties with Harshit Rana? Could be an important element of this game.
Largely, neither team would be too concerned by the result itself, even if they have a preference of the opposition they want to face. However, even relative dead-rubbers such as this can be momentum-killers, and equally set teams up for strong runs in the knockout fixtures. A match that will be analysed to the minutest details by both teams, and one that is still very much worth paying attention to going forward in the Champions Trophy.
Follow all the updates here:
Mar 2, 2025 11:30 AM IST
India vs New Zealand LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: Maybe the biggest reason India have looked at such ease in recent ODIs is the ability to operate three world class spinners through the middle overs, who not only keep the scoring quiet but also are wicket threats. That is something no other team can provide, but New Zealand are maybe uniquely suited to playing this trifecta in Asian conditions.
Williamson, Ravindra, Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell are all very very capable against spin, with Ravindra and Mitchell also capable of attacking to keep the runs ticking. It’s set to be a potential challenge for India’s spinners, and might require creative decision-making from Rohit in the field.
Mar 2, 2025 11:20 AM IST
India vs New Zealand LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: Captain Rohit Sharma was seen struggling with a hamstring issue in the match against Pakistan, hobbling off the field at one stage while fielding. He did provide a fast start to India, but didn’t stick around for too long. There will be a slight concern regarding his durability, although he as well as assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate have indicated that it isn’t a concern. India fans will certainly hope that is the case.
Mar 2, 2025 11:10 AM IST
India vs New Zealand LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: Equally, there is another battle of a generation, as two of the most exciting batters in this age group will be on show opening the batting. Shubman Gill and Rachin Ravindra have both already notched up superb centuries, and have the same style of batting, with timing, dynamism, an ability to keep the score ticking along and bring up those big individual scores. This pair could be amongst those who define international batting for years to come, and will be another contest to keep an eye on.
Mar 2, 2025 11:00 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: When it comes to head-to-head contests, India are ahead of New Zealand in ODIs. Out of the 118 one-day internationals played between the two teams, India are up by 10 matches, leading the Kiwis 60-50 with 8 matches either ending in no-contests or a tie. Add to that the fact that India have bossed New Zealand 5-0 in their last five ODIs, promises to come as music to all Indian fans ears.
Mar 2, 2025 10:50 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICCChampions Trophy 2025: This match will also see two members of the fab four go head-to-head, both looking to try and boost their run-scoring form for this tournament. Kohli, of course, comes into this match on the back of a match-winning unbeaten century against Pakistan. Williamson will try to match those performances when he gets bat in hand as well.
Mar 2, 2025 10:40 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: One concern for India might be the quick succession of this match by the semifinal on Tuesday. That’s a lot of cricket, especially for a tournament, in a short span of time. Will India look to move things around to preserve freshness in the starters, or go a different and more creative route to deal with endurance? Wouldn’t be shocking to see a couple of changes, but there’s also a chance Gambhir persists with the same unit given its phenomenal balance and success.
Mar 2, 2025 10:30 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: No sweat for the New Zealand team either, who won two different games in two different cities, and looked similarly in control and flow as a whole team. Rachin Ravindra’s return was a clear boost as he struck a century, while the captaincy and expertise of Mitchell Santner has really impressed in his first ICC tournament as skipper. This is a very, very capable team.
1
4Points
2Played
2Won
+0.863NRR
2
4Points
2Played
2Won
+0.647NRR
3
1Points
3Played
0Won
-0.443NRR
4
1Points
3Played
0Won
-1.087NRR
Mar 2, 2025 10:20 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India will still be happy with how the group stages have gone, with all the players clicking, a balance being found, and four points on the board thanks to handling business in potentially tricky chases. It’s been a statement of intent from the Indian team early on in this tournament. In the first match, the players made short work of Bangladesh before absolutely crippling Pakistan to send them packing from the tournament. Now that’s how you start an ICC tournament.
Mar 2, 2025 10:10 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: With Group B settled, IND and NZ will know that the winner of their game will go on to face Australia, while the losing will face off against South Africa.
If anything, it’s more shrouded in mystery for those two teams, who still don’t know and will only find out on short notice if they should stay on in Dubai after flying out preemptively or immediately return to Pakistan.
Mar 2, 2025 10:00 AM IST
India vs New Zealand Live Score, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: This is it then, the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, but hopefully a sign of exciting things to come rest of the way. India take on New Zealand at the Dubai Cricket International Stadium, battling for top spot in Group A. Can India keep it rolling or will the Kiwis provide a speedbreaker?
