India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Match Preview
Image credits: AP
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between India and New Zealand in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with both teams looking to finish top of Group A and gain momentum heading into the semifinals. The match, scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, promises to be a closely contested affair, with both teams boasting a strong lineup and a wealth of experience in major tournaments. New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips has expressed confidence in his team's preparations, stating that they have their game plans in place and are ready to adapt to the conditions in Dubai.
India, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their recent form and register a convincing win over their opponents. The team has been in good form, with key players such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli performing well in recent matches. However, the team may also be tempted to give some game time to players who have not played yet, with Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav potentially making way for Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy. India will be aiming to repeat their imperious display from their last meeting on the world stage, where they registered a convincing win in the semifinals of the 2023 World Cup.
The match is expected to be a high-scoring affair, with the Dubai International Cricket Stadium known for its batting-friendly conditions. The team winning the toss may opt to bat, but India won't mind chasing either. The pitch conditions are expected to be cricket-friendly, with the temperatures expected to be mild during playtime. New Zealand has a good record against India in ICC events, and they will be looking to continue this trend. The team has been well-drilled and well-coached, with players knowing their roles clearly, which has been a key factor in their success in tournament play.
Some key statistics to watch out for in the match include Virat Kohli playing in his 300th ODI, and New Zealand seamers having amongst the highest release points in the competition. The team's spinners, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, have extracted the most turn among all the spinners in CT 2025 thus far, with more than a third of their deliveries turning over 4.5 degrees. The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams giving it their all to finish top of Group A. The Champions Trophy has been an exciting tournament so far, and this match promises to be one of the highlights of the group stage.
Here are the predicted playing XIs for both teams:
- India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
- New Zealand: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke
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