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New Zealand opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/will-young">Will Young</a> remains undeterred by his team&rsquo;s group-stage loss to India and is determined to capitalise on Rohit Sharma's side&rsquo;s weaknesses in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> final on Sunday (March 9).
Young, who has provided strong starts alongside Devon Conway and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra">Rachin Ravindra</a>, will be a key figure for the Black Caps in the high-stakes clash. Reflecting on the 44-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament, Young sees it as a learning opportunity.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s plenty we can take from that match from a scouting perspective. As a batter, I&rsquo;ve analysed their bowlers, and I&rsquo;m sure our bowlers have studied their batters too,&rdquo; Young was quoted saying to ICC. &ldquo;It was a great chance to understand their style of play, especially in those conditions at the same venue.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-vice-captain-shubman-gill-eyes-redemption-says-patience-will-be-key-in-final-8833428">Champions Trophy: India vice-captain Shubman Gill eyes redemption, says patience will be key in final</a>
New Zealand has been a formidable force in the tournament, with Rachin Ravindra in red-hot form, scoring centuries against Bangladesh and South Africa. Young stressed that past encounters between India and New Zealand have been closely contested, making the final an open battle.
<h2 data-start="1326" data-end="1609">'We trust our game plan'</h2>
&ldquo;There have been some great clashes with India in recent years, including the World Test Championship and the 2023 World Cup semifinal. But in the end, it all comes down to who performs on the day,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have to adapt to whatever challenges come our way and trust our game plan.&rdquo;
The Black Caps also draw inspiration from their historic 2000 Champions Trophy triumph when they defeated India by four wickets in Nairobi. Young, who was eight years old at the time, fondly remembers the legendary squad that secured New Zealand&rsquo;s first major ICC title.
&ldquo;There were some iconic names in that team&mdash;players many of us looked up to. It&rsquo;s special to try and achieve the same feat 25 years later,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Before we left for this tournament, we had a squad unveiling where Scott Styris shared stories from that victory. It was a reminder that New Zealand has done this before, and now it&rsquo;s our turn to carry the baton forward.&rdquo;
With history and form on their side, New Zealand will look to script another memorable chapter in their cricketing legacy on Sunday.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Young, who has provided strong starts alongside Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, will be a key figure for the Black Caps in the high-stakes clash

New Zealand opener Will Young remains undeterred by his team’s group-stage loss to India and is determined to capitalise on Rohit Sharma's side’s weaknesses in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (March 9). Young, who has provided strong starts alongside Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, will be a key figure for the Black Caps in the high-stakes clash. Reflecting on the 44-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament, Young sees it as a learning opportunity. “There’s plenty we can take from that match from a scouting perspective. As a batter, I’ve analysed their bowlers, and I’m sure our bowlers have studied their batters too,” Young was quoted saying to ICC. “It was a great chance to understand their style of play, especially in those conditions at the same venue.” Also Read: Champions Trophy: India vice-captain Shubman Gill eyes redemption, says patience will be key in final New Zealand has been a formidable force in the tournament, with Rachin Ravindra in red-hot form, scoring centuries against Bangladesh and South Africa. Young stressed that past encounters between India and New Zealand have been closely contested, making the final an open battle. 'We trust our game plan' “There have been some great clashes with India in recent years, including the World Test Championship and the 2023 World Cup semifinal. But in the end, it all comes down to who performs on the day,” he said. “We’ll have to adapt to whatever challenges come our way and trust our game plan.” The Black Caps also draw inspiration from their historic 2000 Champions Trophy triumph when they defeated India by four wickets in Nairobi. Young, who was eight years old at the time, fondly remembers the legendary squad that secured New Zealand’s first major ICC title. “There were some iconic names in that team—players many of us looked up to. It’s special to try and achieve the same feat 25 years later,” he said. “Before we left for this tournament, we had a squad unveiling where Scott Styris shared stories from that victory. It was a reminder that New Zealand has done this before, and now it’s our turn to carry the baton forward.” With history and form on their side, New Zealand will look to script another memorable chapter in their cricketing legacy on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: Unfazed by defeat to India in group stage, Will Young focused on final

The stage is set for Sunday&rsquo;s (Mar 9) Champions Trophy 2025 final as India take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. India will bid to win their third Champions Trophy title while New Zealand are in search of glory for the second time. However, will the weather have any role to play as we take a look at the conditions in Dubai.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final Weather Forecast<o:p></o:p></h2>
There is no rain expected on Sunday in Dubai as the weather will remain warm and clear in the second-biggest city of the United Arab Emirates. The temperature will range between 25 and 30 degrees, dropping as the day progresses. While partial clouds will be there in the second half of the day, it is not expected to play any role in the outcome of the match. With a humidity level of less than 50 percent, it is ideal for playing cricket.
<h2 class="left">Where to watch the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final on TV?</h2>
The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="left">Where to watch the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 class="left">Which stadium will host the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final?</h2>
The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal left">What time will the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final start?</h2>
The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will start at 2:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 9) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-all-you-need-to-know-check-live-streaming-head-to-head-stats-pitch-report-squad-8830440" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Champions Trophy Final: IND vs NZ Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.

Sports, Cricket: India will bid to win their third Champions Trophy title while New Zealand are in search of glory for the second time in Sunday's showdown clash.

The stage is set for Sunday’s (Mar 9) Champions Trophy 2025 final as India take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. India will bid to win their third Champions Trophy title while New Zealand are in search of glory for the second time. However, will the weather have any role to play as we take a look at the conditions in Dubai. IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final Weather Forecast There is no rain expected on Sunday in Dubai as the weather will remain warm and clear in the second-biggest city of the United Arab Emirates. The temperature will range between 25 and 30 degrees, dropping as the day progresses. While partial clouds will be there in the second half of the day, it is not expected to play any role in the outcome of the match. With a humidity level of less than 50 percent, it is ideal for playing cricket. Where to watch the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final on TV? The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be telecast on Star Sports Network in India. Where to watch the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final Live Streaming online on OTT? The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final? The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. What time will the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final start? The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final will start at 2:30 PM IST on Sunday (Mar 9) with the toss taking place at 2:00 PM IST. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad Champions Trophy Final: IND vs NZ Squads India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy. New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final Weather Forecast: Will rain play spoilsport?

India's young batting star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> is eager to channel the lessons learned from the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he prepares to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (March 9).
A year ago, India was on the brink of replicating the 2011 World Cup triumph under MS Dhoni, but a stunning innings from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> shattered their dreams in Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue had enjoyed a near-perfect campaign, winning all nine group-stage matches and dominating New Zealand in the semi-final before falling short in the title clash.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wpl-2025-from-watching-malinga-to-matching-his-feat-amelia-kerrs-milestone-for-mumbai-indians-8833190">WPL 2025: From watching Malinga to matching his feat: Amelia Kerr&rsquo;s milestone for Mumbai Indians</a>
Now, with another shot at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc">ICC</a> glory, Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider.
<h2>'Patience is key'</h2>
Reflecting on his first ICC final, Gill acknowledged the nerves that came with the occasion and emphasised the importance of patience in big matches.
"(It felt like) I was losing time to dominate in that game. I think in big ICC knockout matches, you can give yourself a little bit more time than you think," he shared.
Gill also pointed to India's recent success in the 2024 T20 World Cup as a confidence booster. "We lost (the ODI World Cup final) in '23 and then won the T20 World Cup (in 2024). So I think we have got good momentum going into this tournament."
With the weight of expectations from millions of Indian fans, Gill believes this final presents a golden opportunity for the team to cap off a strong year in international cricket. "It's going to be a really exciting game for us. If we win this one, it would be a great way to end this format this year."

Sports, Cricket: Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider

India's young batting star Shubman Gill is eager to channel the lessons learned from the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he prepares to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (March 9). A year ago, India was on the brink of replicating the 2011 World Cup triumph under MS Dhoni, but a stunning innings from Travis Head shattered their dreams in Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue had enjoyed a near-perfect campaign, winning all nine group-stage matches and dominating New Zealand in the semi-final before falling short in the title clash. Also Read: WPL 2025: From watching Malinga to matching his feat: Amelia Kerr’s milestone for Mumbai Indians Now, with another shot at ICC glory, Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider. 'Patience is key' Reflecting on his first ICC final, Gill acknowledged the nerves that came with the occasion and emphasised the importance of patience in big matches. "(It felt like) I was losing time to dominate in that game. I think in big ICC knockout matches, you can give yourself a little bit more time than you think," he shared. Gill also pointed to India's recent success in the 2024 T20 World Cup as a confidence booster. "We lost (the ODI World Cup final) in '23 and then won the T20 World Cup (in 2024). So I think we have got good momentum going into this tournament." With the weight of expectations from millions of Indian fans, Gill believes this final presents a golden opportunity for the team to cap off a strong year in international cricket. "It's going to be a really exciting game for us. If we win this one, it would be a great way to end this format this year."

Champions Trophy:  India vice-captain Shubman Gill eyes redemption, says patience will be key in final

Mumbai Indians&rsquo; all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/amelia-kerr">Amelia Kerr</a> wrote her name into the record books with a remarkable bowling performance against UP Warriorz in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/womens-premier-league">Women&rsquo;s Premier League</a> (WPL) 2025. The Kiwi leg-spinner became the first player from the MI Women&rsquo;s team to take a five-wicket haul, with figures of 5/38 in Lucknow. This achievement also places her in an exclusive club alongside Sri Lankan legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lasith-malinga">Lasith Malinga</a>, who was the first to take a fifer for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
<h2>A performance to remember</h2>
Kerr&rsquo;s spell was a masterclass in aggressive and strategic bowling. While she did concede a few boundaries, her ability to break through the opposition&rsquo;s lineup turned the tide in MI&rsquo;s favour. Reflecting on her performance, Kerr shared insights into her approach. She said, &ldquo;I just think about my bowling and try to keep it as simple as possible. If I do that, it allows me to be aggressive while restricting runs. I did concede a few, but the key is to take wickets and hold teams back. It&rsquo;s nice to contribute with the ball.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-former-india-head-coach-ravi-shastri-names-potential-x-factor-who-could-decide-the-final-8833113">Champions Trophy: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri names potential X-factor who could decide the final</a>
Her crucial breakthroughs ensured MI remained in control throughout the game, eventually securing a dominant victory.
Achieving a fifer for Mumbai Indians is a special milestone, but the connection with Lasith Malinga makes it even more significant. Kerr, who grew up watching the Sri Lankan speedster terrorise batters with his pinpoint yorkers, found it surreal to now share a record with him.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very cool! I definitely watched him as a kid and always knew that when he came on, he would bowl a yorker and get a player out. Obviously, we&rsquo;re very different bowlers, but that&rsquo;s a really cool connection. He&rsquo;s probably one of the greatest to have ever played, with his unique style and impact.&rdquo;
While Malinga dominated with his slingy pace and toe-crushing yorkers, Kerr&rsquo;s brilliance lies in her deceptive leg-spin and ability to outfox batters with subtle variations. Yet, both share a common trait&mdash;turning games around for Mumbai Indians with their match-winning spells.
With this stellar performance, Kerr also ascended to the top of the WPL wicket-takers&rsquo; list, donning the prestigious Purple Cap. However, she remains focused on the bigger picture&mdash;helping MI win more matches and ultimately lifting the trophy.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice to contribute to a win today, and hopefully, there are more wins ahead for Mumbai Indians. There&rsquo;s still a long way to go, and we&rsquo;re taking each game as it comes. It&rsquo;s also great to have Nat (Sciver-Brunt) with the Orange Cap in our camp. These are pleasing signs for us as a team.&rdquo;

Sports, Cricket: The Kiwi leg-spinner became the first player from the MI Women’s team to take a five-wicket haul, with figures of 5/38 in Lucknow

Mumbai Indians’ all-rounder Amelia Kerr wrote her name into the record books with a remarkable bowling performance against UP Warriorz in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. The Kiwi leg-spinner became the first player from the MI Women’s team to take a five-wicket haul, with figures of 5/38 in Lucknow. This achievement also places her in an exclusive club alongside Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, who was the first to take a fifer for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. A performance to remember Kerr’s spell was a masterclass in aggressive and strategic bowling. While she did concede a few boundaries, her ability to break through the opposition’s lineup turned the tide in MI’s favour. Reflecting on her performance, Kerr shared insights into her approach. She said, “I just think about my bowling and try to keep it as simple as possible. If I do that, it allows me to be aggressive while restricting runs. I did concede a few, but the key is to take wickets and hold teams back. It’s nice to contribute with the ball.” Also Read: Champions Trophy: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri names potential X-factor who could decide the final Her crucial breakthroughs ensured MI remained in control throughout the game, eventually securing a dominant victory. Achieving a fifer for Mumbai Indians is a special milestone, but the connection with Lasith Malinga makes it even more significant. Kerr, who grew up watching the Sri Lankan speedster terrorise batters with his pinpoint yorkers, found it surreal to now share a record with him. “It’s very cool! I definitely watched him as a kid and always knew that when he came on, he would bowl a yorker and get a player out. Obviously, we’re very different bowlers, but that’s a really cool connection. He’s probably one of the greatest to have ever played, with his unique style and impact.” While Malinga dominated with his slingy pace and toe-crushing yorkers, Kerr’s brilliance lies in her deceptive leg-spin and ability to outfox batters with subtle variations. Yet, both share a common trait—turning games around for Mumbai Indians with their match-winning spells. With this stellar performance, Kerr also ascended to the top of the WPL wicket-takers’ list, donning the prestigious Purple Cap. However, she remains focused on the bigger picture—helping MI win more matches and ultimately lifting the trophy. “It’s nice to contribute to a win today, and hopefully, there are more wins ahead for Mumbai Indians. There’s still a long way to go, and we’re taking each game as it comes. It’s also great to have Nat (Sciver-Brunt) with the Orange Cap in our camp. These are pleasing signs for us as a team.”

WPL 2025: From watching Malinga to matching his feat: Amelia Kerr’s milestone for Mumbai Indians

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has labeled India as the favorites for Sunday&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> final against New Zealand but emphasised that the advantage is marginal, given the strength of the Black Caps.
India, unbeaten in the tournament, secured a place in the final after defeating Australia in the semifinal. New Zealand, finishing second behind India in Group A, booked their final spot with a dominant victory over South Africa in Lahore.
"If there's one team that can beat India, it's New Zealand," Shastri said on The ICC Review. "So India start as favorites, but only just." The final will be a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy title clash, where New Zealand triumphed by four wickets in Nairobi.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-axars-no-5-role-is-key-to-indias-strategy-says-gambhir-before-final-showdown-8832978">Champions Trophy: Axar&rsquo;s No. 5 role is key to India&rsquo;s strategy, says Gambhir before final showdown</a>
Analysing the key players, Shastri highlighted four New Zealand stars who could make an impact&mdash;Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/glenn-phillips">Glenn Phillips</a>. He described Ravindra as 'immensely talented', praised Williamson for his 'stability and calmness like a saint', and lauded Santner&rsquo;s intelligent leadership. He also pointed out Phillips as a potential X-factor.
On the Indian side, Shastri singled out Virat Kohli as a game-changer, especially given his current form. He also recognised Williamson's ability to perform in crucial moments. "Now, on current form, Kohli. When these guys get hot and you let them get their first 10 runs, then they're trouble. Whether it&rsquo;s Williamson or Kohli," he remarked.
Ravindra, just 25, has already scored five centuries in ICC 50-over tournaments&mdash;the youngest to do so. "I like the way he moves in the crease," Shastri said. "There's an element of fluency, he plays the quicks well, and he has a very good temperament."
<h2 data-start="1466" data-end="1720">'Santner is an intelligent man'</h2>
Williamson, known for his leadership and consistency, has been in stellar form with scores of 81 against India and 102 against South Africa. "He's very stable, there's an element of calmness. He's like a saint, just sitting, meditating," Shastri observed. He compared Williamson&rsquo;s movement at the crease to elite batters like Joe Root and Kohli, noting the fluency in their footwork.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravi-shastri">Shastri</a> also praised Santner, leading New Zealand in his first ICC tournament as captain. "He's an intelligent man, and this captaincy suits him. It adds an edge to his game as a batter, bowler, and overall cricketer," he said.
As for potential match-winners, Shastri believes all-rounders could play a decisive role. "For Player of the Match, I&rsquo;d go with an all-rounder&mdash;Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja from India. From New Zealand, Glenn Phillips could turn the game around with a quick-fire cameo or a couple of crucial wickets," he predicted.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: India secured a place in the final after defeating Australia in the semi-final, while New Zealand booked their final spot with a dominant win over South Africa

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has labeled India as the favorites for Sunday’s Champions Trophy final against New Zealand but emphasised that the advantage is marginal, given the strength of the Black Caps. India, unbeaten in the tournament, secured a place in the final after defeating Australia in the semifinal. New Zealand, finishing second behind India in Group A, booked their final spot with a dominant victory over South Africa in Lahore. "If there's one team that can beat India, it's New Zealand," Shastri said on The ICC Review. "So India start as favorites, but only just." The final will be a rematch of the 2000 Champions Trophy title clash, where New Zealand triumphed by four wickets in Nairobi. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Axar’s No. 5 role is key to India’s strategy, says Gambhir before final showdown Analysing the key players, Shastri highlighted four New Zealand stars who could make an impact—Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips. He described Ravindra as 'immensely talented', praised Williamson for his 'stability and calmness like a saint', and lauded Santner’s intelligent leadership. He also pointed out Phillips as a potential X-factor. On the Indian side, Shastri singled out Virat Kohli as a game-changer, especially given his current form. He also recognised Williamson's ability to perform in crucial moments. "Now, on current form, Kohli. When these guys get hot and you let them get their first 10 runs, then they're trouble. Whether it’s Williamson or Kohli," he remarked. Ravindra, just 25, has already scored five centuries in ICC 50-over tournaments—the youngest to do so. "I like the way he moves in the crease," Shastri said. "There's an element of fluency, he plays the quicks well, and he has a very good temperament." 'Santner is an intelligent man' Williamson, known for his leadership and consistency, has been in stellar form with scores of 81 against India and 102 against South Africa. "He's very stable, there's an element of calmness. He's like a saint, just sitting, meditating," Shastri observed. He compared Williamson’s movement at the crease to elite batters like Joe Root and Kohli, noting the fluency in their footwork. Shastri also praised Santner, leading New Zealand in his first ICC tournament as captain. "He's an intelligent man, and this captaincy suits him. It adds an edge to his game as a batter, bowler, and overall cricketer," he said. As for potential match-winners, Shastri believes all-rounders could play a decisive role. "For Player of the Match, I’d go with an all-rounder—Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja from India. From New Zealand, Glenn Phillips could turn the game around with a quick-fire cameo or a couple of crucial wickets," he predicted. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri names potential X-factor who could decide the final

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, Team India&rsquo;s head coach, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gautam-gambhir">Gautam Gambhir</a>, explained the reasoning behind the team&rsquo;s batting order shuffle. He highlighted that Axar Patel&rsquo;s promotion to number five allows him to express himself and showcase his talent on the global stage.
India will face New Zealand in the final on March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. The Men in Blue remain unbeaten in the tournament, while the Kiwis have displayed impressive all-round performances under Mitchell Santner&rsquo;s captaincy. This highly anticipated clash revisits the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand emerged victorious. Additionally, India will be looking to settle past scores, having suffered defeats against the Blackcaps in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/world-test-championship">World Test Championship</a> final.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-india-pakistan-pitch-set-to-be-used-for-sundays-final-between-india-vs-new-zealand-report-8832243">Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan pitch set to be used for Sunday's final - Report</a>
India&rsquo;s decision not to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns meant that all their matches were played in Dubai. In contrast, other teams had to shuttle between Pakistan and Dubai during the league stage and semifinals, leading to debates about scheduling fairness. Critics, including former cricketers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nasser-hussain">Nasser Hussain</a> and Michael Atherton, have suggested that India gained an advantage by playing all their matches at a single venue, reducing travel fatigue and allowing them to tailor their squad to Dubai&rsquo;s conditions.
<h2>'We don't care what people say'</h2>
Addressing these concerns, Gambhir remained unfazed. &ldquo;We have answered this before&mdash;we don&rsquo;t care what people say. Axar is a quality player, and it&rsquo;s important to give him opportunities. This is how cricket should be played, and this is how we will continue to play. We recognise Axar&rsquo;s ability, and we will keep backing him at number five so that he can perform, express himself, and showcase his talent to the world,&rdquo; he stated during a post-match press conference.
Axar Patel&rsquo;s promotion to number five has been a significant talking point in the tournament. His composed knock of 27 runs off 30 balls, including a boundary and a six, helped stabilize India&rsquo;s innings in the semi-final against Australia. Overall, he has excelled in his new role, amassing 69 runs in two matches.
Gambhir also shed light on KL Rahul&rsquo;s placement at number six instead of a higher batting position. According to him, this strategic move provides India with greater batting depth, aligning with the team&rsquo;s approach to the game.
&ldquo;In team sports, numbers and batting positions don&rsquo;t matter&mdash;it&rsquo;s the impact that counts. The priority should be securing a spot in the playing XI and contributing to the team in any role required. KL has embraced this role at number six and has done it exceptionally well. People keep questioning this decision, but we believe he strengthens our depth at that position,&rdquo; Gambhir explained.
&ldquo;Our focus is not on fixed batting positions but on creating maximum impact for the team. That&rsquo;s the approach we will continue to follow,&rdquo; he concluded.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: India will face New Zealand in final on March 9. The Men in Blue remain unbeaten in the tournament, while the Kiwis have shown impressive all-round performances

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, explained the reasoning behind the team’s batting order shuffle. He highlighted that Axar Patel’s promotion to number five allows him to express himself and showcase his talent on the global stage. India will face New Zealand in the final on March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. The Men in Blue remain unbeaten in the tournament, while the Kiwis have displayed impressive all-round performances under Mitchell Santner’s captaincy. This highly anticipated clash revisits the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand emerged victorious. Additionally, India will be looking to settle past scores, having suffered defeats against the Blackcaps in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan pitch set to be used for Sunday's final - Report India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns meant that all their matches were played in Dubai. In contrast, other teams had to shuttle between Pakistan and Dubai during the league stage and semifinals, leading to debates about scheduling fairness. Critics, including former cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, have suggested that India gained an advantage by playing all their matches at a single venue, reducing travel fatigue and allowing them to tailor their squad to Dubai’s conditions. 'We don't care what people say' Addressing these concerns, Gambhir remained unfazed. “We have answered this before—we don’t care what people say. Axar is a quality player, and it’s important to give him opportunities. This is how cricket should be played, and this is how we will continue to play. We recognise Axar’s ability, and we will keep backing him at number five so that he can perform, express himself, and showcase his talent to the world,” he stated during a post-match press conference. Axar Patel’s promotion to number five has been a significant talking point in the tournament. His composed knock of 27 runs off 30 balls, including a boundary and a six, helped stabilize India’s innings in the semi-final against Australia. Overall, he has excelled in his new role, amassing 69 runs in two matches. Gambhir also shed light on KL Rahul’s placement at number six instead of a higher batting position. According to him, this strategic move provides India with greater batting depth, aligning with the team’s approach to the game. “In team sports, numbers and batting positions don’t matter—it’s the impact that counts. The priority should be securing a spot in the playing XI and contributing to the team in any role required. KL has embraced this role at number six and has done it exceptionally well. People keep questioning this decision, but we believe he strengthens our depth at that position,” Gambhir explained. “Our focus is not on fixed batting positions but on creating maximum impact for the team. That’s the approach we will continue to follow,” he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: Axar’s No. 5 role is key to India’s strategy, says Gambhir before final showdown

Former England cricketer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moeen-ali">Moeen Ali</a> has criticised the current state of One Day International (ODI) cricket, calling it the 'worst format to play' due to rule changes that have made it overly favorable for batters. Speaking to Talksport Cricket, as quoted by Wisden, Moeen argued that ODIs have 'completely died' outside of the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
England's recent struggles in ODIs add weight to his comments. They endured a disastrous ICC Cricket World Cup title defense in 2023, winning just three out of nine matches. While they managed to qualify for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a>, their campaign ended without a single victory in three games.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rahul-has-added-depth-to-batting-line-up-as-no6-batter-india-batting-coach-sitanshu-kotak-8832646">'Rahul has added depth to batting line-up as No.6 batter', India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak</a>
Moeen pinpointed specific rule changes as major issues, particularly the 2012 rule that mandates only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle after the first powerplay. He described this as 'horrendous' for bowlers, as it makes it difficult to build pressure and take wickets.
"I think the rules are terrible. The extra fielder inside the circle after the powerplay is a horrendous rule for taking wickets or building pressure. Players now average 60 or 70 in ODIs because of it. If you put a bit of pressure on, the batter can just reverse-sweep for a boundary. There's always an option available for them to score," Moeen explained.
<h2 data-start="954" data-end="1313">'Cricket has died'</h2>
He also criticised the use of two new balls from both ends, a rule introduced in the early 2010s, stating that it has removed reverse swing and made batting easier.
"You lose the reverse swing, you lose the art of trying to hit a softer ball. Everything stays hard, and the ball flies off the bat. Because of this, 50-over cricket has died," he added.
Beyond the rule changes, Moeen pointed to the growing dominance of franchise cricket as another reason for ODI cricket&rsquo;s decline.&nbsp;"The problem is the huge money being thrown into franchise cricket. Players simply can't turn it down. Some will likely retire early from international cricket to focus on franchises," he remarked.
Moeen, a key member of England&rsquo;s 2019 World Cup-winning squad, played 138 ODIs, scoring 2,355 runs with three centuries and six fifties while also taking 111 wickets. This season, he will feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kolkata-knight-riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> (KKR).
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: He also criticised the use of two new balls from both ends, a rule introduced in the early 2010s, stating that it has removed reverse swing and made batting easier

Former England cricketer Moeen Ali has criticised the current state of One Day International (ODI) cricket, calling it the 'worst format to play' due to rule changes that have made it overly favorable for batters. Speaking to Talksport Cricket, as quoted by Wisden, Moeen argued that ODIs have 'completely died' outside of the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Champions Trophy. England's recent struggles in ODIs add weight to his comments. They endured a disastrous ICC Cricket World Cup title defense in 2023, winning just three out of nine matches. While they managed to qualify for the Champions Trophy, their campaign ended without a single victory in three games. Also Read: 'Rahul has added depth to batting line-up as No.6 batter', India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak Moeen pinpointed specific rule changes as major issues, particularly the 2012 rule that mandates only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle after the first powerplay. He described this as 'horrendous' for bowlers, as it makes it difficult to build pressure and take wickets. "I think the rules are terrible. The extra fielder inside the circle after the powerplay is a horrendous rule for taking wickets or building pressure. Players now average 60 or 70 in ODIs because of it. If you put a bit of pressure on, the batter can just reverse-sweep for a boundary. There's always an option available for them to score," Moeen explained. 'Cricket has died' He also criticised the use of two new balls from both ends, a rule introduced in the early 2010s, stating that it has removed reverse swing and made batting easier. "You lose the reverse swing, you lose the art of trying to hit a softer ball. Everything stays hard, and the ball flies off the bat. Because of this, 50-over cricket has died," he added. Beyond the rule changes, Moeen pointed to the growing dominance of franchise cricket as another reason for ODI cricket’s decline. "The problem is the huge money being thrown into franchise cricket. Players simply can't turn it down. Some will likely retire early from international cricket to focus on franchises," he remarked. Moeen, a key member of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad, played 138 ODIs, scoring 2,355 runs with three centuries and six fifties while also taking 111 wickets. This season, he will feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). (With inputs from agencies)

Former England cricketer lambast ODI cricket, says it is 'the worst format to play'

Is Trump reining in Musk, finally? US President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 6) addressed mounting criticism over sweeping government cuts led by billionaire advisor Elon Musk, stressing that staff cuts should be carefully targeted.
In what could be seen as the first move to rein in the seemingly unlimited power accorded to Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump on Truth Social wrote: "We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet'," while emphasising that department heads&mdash;not Musk&mdash;would ultimately control personnel decisions.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-accuses-trudeau-of-causing-tariff-problem-says-he-is-exploiting-it-to-stay-in-power-8829116">Trump accuses Trudeau of causing tariff problem, says he is exploiting it 'to stay in power'</a>
<h2>Trump-Musk at odds?</h2>
No, Trump and Musk are not at odds, if one goes by the tone of his Truth Social post.
At the outset, the US president supported DOGE and its chief. According to a recent AP report, Musk in private talks told lawmakers this week that the firings of thousands of federal workers, including veterans, are the responsibility of individual agencies, not him.
<iframe width="600" height="" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114117008305421663/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

"DOGE has been an incredible success, and now that we have my Cabinet in place, I have instructed the Secretaries and Leadership to work with DOGE on Cost-Cutting measures and Staffing. As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go," said Trump.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-plans-to-revoke-legal-status-of-ukrainian-refugees-for-fast-track-deportation-report-8829038">Trump administration plans to revoke legal status of Ukrainian refugees for fast-track deportation: Report</a>
According to Politico, Trump also conveyed directly to his cabinet, with Musk in attendance, that while the DOGE chief can make recommendations, the ultimate authority lies with his officials.
<h2>Federal workforce in turmoil</h2>
As part of the administration&rsquo;s effort to streamline government operations, tens of thousands of federal workers have already been dismissed or face termination. Millions of employees received directives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Musk, demanding justification for their roles in bullet-pointed memos&mdash;or risk losing their jobs.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-suspends-most-mexico-tariffs-until-april-2-8829006">'Did this out of respect for Sheinbaum'; Trump suspends most Mexico tariffs until April 2</a>
Meanwhile, Musk, facing a backlash from within his task force, admitted to missteps during a meeting with Republicans on Wednesday (March 5).
According to Politico, nearly a third of DOGE's staffers resigned by February, citing concerns that the drastic measures endangered national stability.
"We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," 21 DOGE members wrote in a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, reported the AFP news agency. "However, it has become clear that we can no longer honour those commitments," they wrote.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Regarding final, Kotak assured that the team is under no undue pressure, thanks to the experience of  senior players who have created a calm atmosphere

Is Trump reining in Musk, finally? US President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 6) addressed mounting criticism over sweeping government cuts led by billionaire advisor Elon Musk, stressing that staff cuts should be carefully targeted. In what could be seen as the first move to rein in the seemingly unlimited power accorded to Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump on Truth Social wrote: "We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet'," while emphasising that department heads—not Musk—would ultimately control personnel decisions. Also read | Trump accuses Trudeau of causing tariff problem, says he is exploiting it 'to stay in power' Trump-Musk at odds? No, Trump and Musk are not at odds, if one goes by the tone of his Truth Social post. At the outset, the US president supported DOGE and its chief. According to a recent AP report, Musk in private talks told lawmakers this week that the firings of thousands of federal workers, including veterans, are the responsibility of individual agencies, not him. "DOGE has been an incredible success, and now that we have my Cabinet in place, I have instructed the Secretaries and Leadership to work with DOGE on Cost-Cutting measures and Staffing. As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go," said Trump. Also read | Trump administration plans to revoke legal status of Ukrainian refugees for fast-track deportation: Report According to Politico, Trump also conveyed directly to his cabinet, with Musk in attendance, that while the DOGE chief can make recommendations, the ultimate authority lies with his officials. Federal workforce in turmoil As part of the administration’s effort to streamline government operations, tens of thousands of federal workers have already been dismissed or face termination. Millions of employees received directives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Musk, demanding justification for their roles in bullet-pointed memos—or risk losing their jobs. Also read | 'Did this out of respect for Sheinbaum'; Trump suspends most Mexico tariffs until April 2 Meanwhile, Musk, facing a backlash from within his task force, admitted to missteps during a meeting with Republicans on Wednesday (March 5). According to Politico, nearly a third of DOGE's staffers resigned by February, citing concerns that the drastic measures endangered national stability. "We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," 21 DOGE members wrote in a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, reported the AFP news agency. "However, it has become clear that we can no longer honour those commitments," they wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

'Rahul has added depth to batting line-up as No.6 batter', India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to choose the same pitch used for the India vs Pakistan clash in the group stage for Sunday&rsquo;s (Mar 9) Champions Trophy 2025 final. The clash at the Dubai International Stadium will be India&rsquo;s fifth of the tournament at the same venue while it will be New Zealand&rsquo;s second having also featured in a group stage clash last Sunday. India beat Pakistan by six wickets and New Zealand by 44 runs in their group matches in Dubai.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Match to be played on IND-PAK pitch</h2>
According to prominent cricket website Cricbuzz, the ICC officially have chosen the same pitch used in the group match. The match was a one-sided affair as India won with 45 balls to spare in the contest with bowlers playing an important part. India have a good track record in ODI at the venue as they have won 10 matches out of the 11played, while the other one was a washout.
The India-Pakistan match yielded an aggregate of 485 runs with Virat Kohli being the shining star. The former India captain scored his 82nd international hundred in the match, 51st in the ODIs. Kuldeep Yadav bagged three wickets in the match highlighting the dominance of spin bowlers.
"In every match, the wicket changes slightly. As a batting coach, how do you assess our batsmen's ability to adapt? While the wicket does change a bit, its overall nature hasn't shifted much,&rdquo; India&rsquo;s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said in Friday's presser.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India take on NZ in final</h2>
For the second time in eight days, India and New Zealand will meet in the Champions Trophy, with the tournament up for stakes on Sunday. India had beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage encounter and will be hoping for a similar result while the Kiwis look to add more misery to India having beaten them in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Sports, Cricket: The ICC is all set to choose the same pitch used for the India vs Pakistan clash in the group stage for Sunday’s (Mar 9) Champions Trophy 2025 final.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to choose the same pitch used for the India vs Pakistan clash in the group stage for Sunday’s (Mar 9) Champions Trophy 2025 final. The clash at the Dubai International Stadium will be India’s fifth of the tournament at the same venue while it will be New Zealand’s second having also featured in a group stage clash last Sunday. India beat Pakistan by six wickets and New Zealand by 44 runs in their group matches in Dubai. Match to be played on IND-PAK pitch According to prominent cricket website Cricbuzz, the ICC officially have chosen the same pitch used in the group match. The match was a one-sided affair as India won with 45 balls to spare in the contest with bowlers playing an important part. India have a good track record in ODI at the venue as they have won 10 matches out of the 11played, while the other one was a washout. The India-Pakistan match yielded an aggregate of 485 runs with Virat Kohli being the shining star. The former India captain scored his 82nd international hundred in the match, 51st in the ODIs. Kuldeep Yadav bagged three wickets in the match highlighting the dominance of spin bowlers. "In every match, the wicket changes slightly. As a batting coach, how do you assess our batsmen's ability to adapt? While the wicket does change a bit, its overall nature hasn't shifted much,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said in Friday's presser. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how India take on NZ in final For the second time in eight days, India and New Zealand will meet in the Champions Trophy, with the tournament up for stakes on Sunday. India had beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage encounter and will be hoping for a similar result while the Kiwis look to add more misery to India having beaten them in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan pitch set to be used for Sunday's final - Report

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has spoken up on his team&rsquo;s travel issues as they prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday (Mar 9). Speaking to the press on Friday Stead stated that travel has taken its toll on the side ahead of the crucial final as they meet tournament favourites India at the Dubai International Stadium. Adding to this, the New Zealand decided not to train on Friday having only arrived in Dubai on Thursday.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Stead critical of travel</h2>
"There's no doubt that coming here after Lahore - we had a full day of travel yesterday - takes it out of you a little bit," Stead said.
"But we've got a couple of days now, a little bit of recovery and a little bit of planning and training towards the game. But I guess we're deep into the tournament now and sometimes it's not always a lot of training that you need. It's just getting your body and your mind right to compete in the final. That will be our key focus over the next two days," he added.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
The Kiwis have faced a race against time to prepare for their recent clashes as they have travelled up and down during the Champions Trophy. They first visited Dubai for the group stage against India before travelling back to Pakistan to play in the semifinal clash against South Africa in Lahore. They had earlier played in Pakistan for their opening group stage matches against the hosts and Bangladesh.
Thursday&rsquo;s visit is New Zealand&rsquo;s second trip to Dubai in a span of one week to face India. They lost to the Men in Blue in the group stage match by 44 runs but will try to turn the fortunes on Sunday. India on the other hand are unbeaten in the Champions Trophy 2025, winning all four matches.

Sports, Cricket: New Zealand head coach Gary Stead is critical of his team’s travel issue as they prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday (Mar 9).

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has spoken up on his team’s travel issues as they prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday (Mar 9). Speaking to the press on Friday Stead stated that travel has taken its toll on the side ahead of the crucial final as they meet tournament favourites India at the Dubai International Stadium. Adding to this, the New Zealand decided not to train on Friday having only arrived in Dubai on Thursday. Stead critical of travel "There's no doubt that coming here after Lahore - we had a full day of travel yesterday - takes it out of you a little bit," Stead said. "But we've got a couple of days now, a little bit of recovery and a little bit of planning and training towards the game. But I guess we're deep into the tournament now and sometimes it's not always a lot of training that you need. It's just getting your body and your mind right to compete in the final. That will be our key focus over the next two days," he added. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how The Kiwis have faced a race against time to prepare for their recent clashes as they have travelled up and down during the Champions Trophy. They first visited Dubai for the group stage against India before travelling back to Pakistan to play in the semifinal clash against South Africa in Lahore. They had earlier played in Pakistan for their opening group stage matches against the hosts and Bangladesh. Thursday’s visit is New Zealand’s second trip to Dubai in a span of one week to face India. They lost to the Men in Blue in the group stage match by 44 runs but will try to turn the fortunes on Sunday. India on the other hand are unbeaten in the Champions Trophy 2025, winning all four matches.

Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand coach Gary Stead says constant travel 'takes it out of you a little bit'

Indian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> is among the most successful modern-day captains and the first-ever to lead his team to the finals of four successive ICC events. Although his form at the top has been a worry for him and India, his leadership skills are unquestionable, guiding his team to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> final against New Zealand in Dubai. However, amid this success, his future seems to hang in balance, with a potential decision to come out any time after the final.
Though Rohit, soon to be 38, believes he still has plenty left to offer, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir discussed the future course of action with him after a dismal BGT Down Under. Since the board is keen on having a stable captain at the helm leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, expect some harsh calls to be taken after Sunday&rsquo;s final, regardless of the result.
A Times of India (TOI) report claims that the BCCI has also put the central contract list announcement for the upcoming season on hold till the final happens, indicating they want to look beyond Rohit as India&rsquo;s captain. The report also stated that the board asked him to communicate his (future) plans, and though retirement is his call, questions around captaincy have begun doing the rounds.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/pakistan-spinner-abrar-ahmed-admits-realising-lifelong-dream-during-india-pakistan-tie-in-champions-trophy-2025-8831013" rel="dofollow">How Kohli won Abrar Ahmed's heart after thrashing Pakistan in Champions Trophy</a>
"Rohit still believes there is some cricket left in him. He has been told to communicate his plans going forward. Retiring is his call, but there will be another discussion around continuing with captaincy. Rohit himself understands the need to have a stable captain if the team wants to prepare for a World Cup. There have been talks with Kohli too, but there doesn&rsquo;t seem to be much anxiety around him," a BCCI source told the newspaper.
<h2>Performances to hamper contract categories</h2>
Following a tough red-ball season where India lost back-to-back Test series (to New Zealand and Australia), the BCCI wanted to assess player&rsquo;s performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, thus waiting for it to get over.&nbsp;
Though they reward those playing all formats with A+ contracts, T20I retirements of Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, and considering their shallow performances in Tests, the board could take some harsh calls going forward. However, the only thing that could keep their positions intact is their performance in the Champions Trophy 2025.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-why-dubai-hosting-india-games-making-everyone-hate-watching-indian-cricket-8827057" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket?</a>
&ldquo;The board will wait for Rohit&rsquo;s decision after the Champions Trophy. If by any chance he chooses to retire, then the board will see what needs to be done. One can&rsquo;t discount the fact that he won the T20 World Cup in July and has led well in the Champions Trophy as well,&rdquo; the source added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The BCCI wanted to assess the players' form in the Champions Trophy, thus waiting for India-New Zealand before announcing the new central contract list.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is among the most successful modern-day captains and the first-ever to lead his team to the finals of four successive ICC events. Although his form at the top has been a worry for him and India, his leadership skills are unquestionable, guiding his team to the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand in Dubai. However, amid this success, his future seems to hang in balance, with a potential decision to come out any time after the final. Though Rohit, soon to be 38, believes he still has plenty left to offer, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir discussed the future course of action with him after a dismal BGT Down Under. Since the board is keen on having a stable captain at the helm leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, expect some harsh calls to be taken after Sunday’s final, regardless of the result. A Times of India (TOI) report claims that the BCCI has also put the central contract list announcement for the upcoming season on hold till the final happens, indicating they want to look beyond Rohit as India’s captain. The report also stated that the board asked him to communicate his (future) plans, and though retirement is his call, questions around captaincy have begun doing the rounds. Also read | How Kohli won Abrar Ahmed's heart after thrashing Pakistan in Champions Trophy "Rohit still believes there is some cricket left in him. He has been told to communicate his plans going forward. Retiring is his call, but there will be another discussion around continuing with captaincy. Rohit himself understands the need to have a stable captain if the team wants to prepare for a World Cup. There have been talks with Kohli too, but there doesn’t seem to be much anxiety around him," a BCCI source told the newspaper. Performances to hamper contract categories Following a tough red-ball season where India lost back-to-back Test series (to New Zealand and Australia), the BCCI wanted to assess player’s performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, thus waiting for it to get over. Though they reward those playing all formats with A+ contracts, T20I retirements of Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, and considering their shallow performances in Tests, the board could take some harsh calls going forward. However, the only thing that could keep their positions intact is their performance in the Champions Trophy 2025. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket? “The board will wait for Rohit’s decision after the Champions Trophy. If by any chance he chooses to retire, then the board will see what needs to be done. One can’t discount the fact that he won the T20 World Cup in July and has led well in the Champions Trophy as well,” the source added. (With inputs from agencies)

Rohit Sharma’s future hangs by a thin thread amid Champions Trophy success – Report

It was on October 15, 2000 in Nairobi, Kenya that India and New Zealand faced each other for the first time in an ICC ODI Tournament final. At the time, the only ICC events were the World Cup and Champions Trophy - the Tests didn't need a WTC and T20s were not invented yet.
It was a time when 260+ score in ODIs was considered good enough to win and anything between 280-300 almost guaranteed a win. During those times, the powerplay or erstwhile field restrictions last for first 15 overs only and just one ball was used unless in bad shape.
As the two sides get ready to take on each other in the 2025 Champions Trophy Final on Sunday (Mar 9), lets have a look at what happened the last time they met in Champions Trophy Final.
Led by Stephen Fleming, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. The decision backfired as Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar added 141 runs for the opening wicket in 26.3 overs.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-gavaskar-highlights-indias-shortcomings-ahead-of-title-bout-8830760">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Gavaskar highlights India's shortcomings ahead of title bout</a>
The partnership was eventually broken when Sachin got run out on a personal score of 69 off 83 balls. Ganguly, a young skipper, then found a partner in Rahul Dravid and the duo added 61 runs for the second wicket - taking India past 200 in 39 overs.
With 11 overs left and eight wickets in hand, India aimed at 300+ total but some great bowling by the Kiwis ensured that India finished at 264/6 in 50 overs. Ganguly getting out on 117 in the 43rd over also played a huge role in the innings being derailed.
Coming to the chase, India struck early as Venkatesh Prasad got Craig Spearman out on the last ball of the second over. One more wicket by Prasad and Kumble getting rid of dangerous Nathan Astle meant the Kiwis were 82/3 in 15 overs - end of the erstwhile first powerplay.
India took two more wickets at regular intervals as the Kiwis were pinned down at 132/5 in 24 overs but Chris Cairns had other plans. The all-rounder added 122 runs for the sixth wicket with Chris Harris and took the Kiwis really close to the target.
Prasad took out Harris for 46 in the penultimate over with Kiwis still needing 11 runs in nine balls. The Indian pacer then gave away seven runs in next three balls - leaving just four for the last over.
Cairns, already at 100, kept his calm along with wicketkeeper-batter Adam Parore as the Kiwis won their first ICC title by four wickets with two balls to spare.

As the two sides get ready to take on each other in the 2025 Champions Trophy Final on Sunday (Mar 9), lets have a look at what happened the last time they two sides played in Champions Trophy Final. Cricket Sports

It was on October 15, 2000 in Nairobi, Kenya that India and New Zealand faced each other for the first time in an ICC ODI Tournament final. At the time, the only ICC events were the World Cup and Champions Trophy - the Tests didn't need a WTC and T20s were not invented yet. It was a time when 260+ score in ODIs was considered good enough to win and anything between 280-300 almost guaranteed a win. During those times, the powerplay or erstwhile field restrictions last for first 15 overs only and just one ball was used unless in bad shape. As the two sides get ready to take on each other in the 2025 Champions Trophy Final on Sunday (Mar 9), lets have a look at what happened the last time they met in Champions Trophy Final. Led by Stephen Fleming, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. The decision backfired as Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar added 141 runs for the opening wicket in 26.3 overs. Also Read: IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Gavaskar highlights India's shortcomings ahead of title bout The partnership was eventually broken when Sachin got run out on a personal score of 69 off 83 balls. Ganguly, a young skipper, then found a partner in Rahul Dravid and the duo added 61 runs for the second wicket - taking India past 200 in 39 overs. With 11 overs left and eight wickets in hand, India aimed at 300+ total but some great bowling by the Kiwis ensured that India finished at 264/6 in 50 overs. Ganguly getting out on 117 in the 43rd over also played a huge role in the innings being derailed. Coming to the chase, India struck early as Venkatesh Prasad got Craig Spearman out on the last ball of the second over. One more wicket by Prasad and Kumble getting rid of dangerous Nathan Astle meant the Kiwis were 82/3 in 15 overs - end of the erstwhile first powerplay. India took two more wickets at regular intervals as the Kiwis were pinned down at 132/5 in 24 overs but Chris Cairns had other plans. The all-rounder added 122 runs for the sixth wicket with Chris Harris and took the Kiwis really close to the target. Prasad took out Harris for 46 in the penultimate over with Kiwis still needing 11 runs in nine balls. The Indian pacer then gave away seven runs in next three balls - leaving just four for the last over. Cairns, already at 100, kept his calm along with wicketkeeper-batter Adam Parore as the Kiwis won their first ICC title by four wickets with two balls to spare.

India were 202/2 in 39 overs but managed 264/6 in 50 overs - How New Zealand won 2000 Champions Trophy Final vs India

Cricket, IPL, Sports: The Indian Premier League 2025 is all set to start on Saturday (Mar 22) as defending champions KKR take on RCB in the opening contest.

IPL 2025, key dates schedule timetable and fixture: The Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) is all set to start on Saturday (Mar 22) as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening contest. Now in its 18th season, 10 teams will eye for the prestigious title including record champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Ahead of the IPL 2025 on Mar 22, here are all the details of the tournament including teams, key dates, matches and other details. Where to watch the Indian Premier League 2025 on TV? The Indian Premier League 2025 will be broadcast on the Star Sports and Sports 18 network on TV. Where to watch the Indian Premier League 2025 on OTT? The Indian Premier League 2025 will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website for OTT. When will the Indian Premier League 2025 start? The Indian Premier League 2025, which is the 18th season will kick-off on Saturday (Mar 22) with great enthusiasm. Who will compete in the Indian Premier League 2025 opening match? Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening clash of the Indian Premier League 2025. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how Which stadium will host the opening match of the Indian Premier League 2025? The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru opening match of the IPL 2025 will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Which teams will participate in the Indian Premier League 2025? 10 teams will play in the Indian Premier League 2025 including Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, SunRisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. Indian Premier League 2025 Schedule All in Indian Standard Time (IST) Table with 5 columns and 74 rows. Match Date Fixture Time Venue 1 March 22, Saturday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 7:30 PM Kolkata 2 March 23, Sunday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals 3:30 PM Hyderabad 3 March 23, Sunday Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Chennai 4 March 24, Monday Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants 7:30 PM Visakhapatnam 5 March 25, Tuesday Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Ahmedabad 6 March 26, Wednesday Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Guwahati 7 March 27, Thursday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants 7:30 PM Hyderabad 8 March 28, Friday Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 7:30 PM Chennai 9 March 29, Saturday Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Ahmedabad 10 March 30, Sunday Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 3:30 PM Visakhapatnam 11 March 30, Sunday Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM Guwahati 12 March 31, Monday Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Mumbai 13 April 1, Tuesday Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Lucknow 14 April 2, Wednesday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Bengaluru 15 April 3, Thursday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Kolkata 16 April 4, Friday Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Lucknow 17 April 5, Saturday Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals 3:30 PM Chennai 18 April 5, Saturday Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals 7:30 PM New Chandigarh 19 April 6, Sunday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants 3:30 PM Kolkata 20 April 6, Sunday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Hyderabad 21 April 7, Monday Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 7:30 PM Mumbai 22 April 8, Tuesday Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM New Chandigarh 23 April 9, Wednesday Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals 7:30 PM Ahmedabad 24 April 10, Thursday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals 7:30 PM Bengaluru 25 April 11, Friday Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Chennai 26 April 12, Saturday Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans 3:30 PM Lucknow 27 April 12, Saturday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Hyderabad 28 April 13, Sunday Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 3:30 PM Jaipur 29 April 13, Sunday Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Delhi 30 April 14, Monday Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM Lucknow 31 April 15, Tuesday Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM New Chandigarh 32 April 16, Wednesday Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals 7:30 PM Delhi 33 April 17, Thursday Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Mumbai 34 April 18, Friday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Bengaluru 35 April 19, Saturday Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals 3:30 PM Ahmedabad 36 April 19, Saturday Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants 7:30 PM Jaipur 37 April 20, Sunday Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 3:30 PM New Chandigarh 38 April 20, Sunday Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM Mumbai 39 April 21, Monday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Kolkata 40 April 22, Tuesday Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals 7:30 PM Lucknow 41 April 23, Wednesday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Hyderabad 42 April 24, Thursday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals 7:30 PM Bengaluru 43 April 25, Friday Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Chennai 44 April 26, Saturday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Kolkata 45 April 27, Sunday Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants 3:30 PM Mumbai 46 April 27, Sunday Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 7:30 PM Delhi 47 April 28, Monday Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Jaipur 48 April 29, Tuesday Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Delhi 49 April 30, Wednesday Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Chennai 50 May 1, Thursday Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM Jaipur 51 May 2, Friday Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Ahmedabad 52 May 3, Saturday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM Bengaluru 53 May 4, Sunday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals 3:30 PM Kolkata 54 May 4, Sunday Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants 7:30 PM Dharamsala 55 May 5, Monday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals 7:30 PM Hyderabad 56 May 6, Tuesday Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Mumbai 57 May 7, Wednesday Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings 7:30 PM Kolkata 58 May 8, Thursday Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals 7:30 PM Dharamsala 59 May 9, Friday Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 7:30 PM Lucknow 60 May 10, Saturday Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Hyderabad 61 May 11, Sunday Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians 3:30 PM Dharamsala 62 May 11, Sunday Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans 7:30 PM Delhi 63 May 12, Monday Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals 7:30 PM Chennai 64 May 13, Tuesday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Bengaluru 65 May 14, Wednesday Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants 7:30 PM Ahmedabad 66 May 15, Thursday Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals 7:30 PM Mumbai 67 May 16, Friday Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings 7:30 PM Jaipur 68 May 17, Saturday Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders 7:30 PM Bengaluru 69 May 18, Sunday Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings 3:30 PM Ahmedabad 70 May 18, Sunday Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 7:30 PM Lucknow 71 May 20, Tuesday Qualifier 1 7:30 PM Hyderabad 72 May 21, Wednesday Eliminator 7:30 PM Hyderabad 73 May 23, Friday Qualifier 2 7:30 PM Kolkata 74 May 25, Sunday Final 7:30 PM Kolkata

IPL 2025: All you need to know including key dates schedule timetable and fixture

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed realised his childhood dream of bowling to Virat Kohli during the India vs Pakistan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> tie in Dubai late last month. Playing his first ICC tournament, Abrar was the best of all Pakistani bowlers used against India, going for just 28 in his ten overs, including picking one wicket of the vice-captain Shubman Gill.
Though Kohli enjoyed scoring against Pakistan, perhaps his favourite opponent across white-ball formats, he failed to find ways to do it against the leg-spinner, who kept the Indian batters quiet during the chase.
Against Pakistan, Kohli completed his 51st ODI hundred, helping <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/at-36-kohlis-record-shattering-century-guides-india-to-famous-victory-against-pakistan-8750296" rel="dofollow">India chase the target with five wickets remaining</a>. Even midway through the match, Kohli acknowledged Abrar&rsquo;s bowling just after he finished his spell by approaching and congratulating him.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-virat-kohli-appreciates-pakistan-spinner-abrar-ahmed-for-tight-spell-in-dubai-showdown-champions-trophy-8752581" rel="dofollow">Watch - Kohli appreciates Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for tight spell in Dubai showdown</a>
Both teams, however, suffered contrasting fates during the tournament. While the host Pakistan got knocked out after losing to India (just six days into the event), India reached the grand finale scheduled against New Zealand this Sunday in Dubai.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, more than a week since that game, Abrar opened up about bowling to Kohli in the high-octane tie, praising the Indian batting great for his modesty on the field.&nbsp;
&ldquo;My childhood dream of bowling to Kohli has come true in Dubai. It was a great challenge, and I took the liberty of teasing him, asking him to hit me a six, but he never got angry. Kohli is a great batter, we all know that. But he is a great human being too,&rdquo; Abrar said in a chat with Telecom Asia Sport, as quoted by Hindustan Times.&nbsp;
<h2>How Kohli&rsquo;s appreciation won his heart</h2>
Talking about that particular incident, Abrar said Kohli praising him won his heart.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-why-dubai-hosting-india-games-making-everyone-hate-watching-indian-cricket-8827057" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket?</a>
&ldquo;He said, &lsquo;well bowled&rsquo; after the match, and that made my day,&rdquo; the 26-year-old added. &ldquo;I have grown up idolising Kohli and used to tell Under-19 players that one day I will bowl to him.&rdquo;
<h3>Gill&rsquo;s wicket celebration</h3>
Of all the things that made headlines during the India vs Pakistan game, Abrar&rsquo;s over-the-top celebration after dismissing Gill made the most noise. Abrar said it&rsquo;s his style of celebrating the wicket and that he finds nothing wrong in this.&nbsp;
<h3>Watch Video -</h3>
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&ldquo;That's my style, and I see nothing wrong with it. No official told me that I did anything wrong, but if it hurt anyone, I am sorry for that. It was not my intention to hurt anyone,&rdquo; the spinner concluded.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Though Kohli scored his 51st ODI hundred against Pakistan in Dubai, helping India win the game, he failed to find ways to score runs against the leg-spinner.

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed realised his childhood dream of bowling to Virat Kohli during the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 tie in Dubai late last month. Playing his first ICC tournament, Abrar was the best of all Pakistani bowlers used against India, going for just 28 in his ten overs, including picking one wicket of the vice-captain Shubman Gill. Though Kohli enjoyed scoring against Pakistan, perhaps his favourite opponent across white-ball formats, he failed to find ways to do it against the leg-spinner, who kept the Indian batters quiet during the chase. Against Pakistan, Kohli completed his 51st ODI hundred, helping India chase the target with five wickets remaining. Even midway through the match, Kohli acknowledged Abrar’s bowling just after he finished his spell by approaching and congratulating him. Also read | Watch - Kohli appreciates Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for tight spell in Dubai showdown Both teams, however, suffered contrasting fates during the tournament. While the host Pakistan got knocked out after losing to India (just six days into the event), India reached the grand finale scheduled against New Zealand this Sunday in Dubai. Meanwhile, more than a week since that game, Abrar opened up about bowling to Kohli in the high-octane tie, praising the Indian batting great for his modesty on the field. “My childhood dream of bowling to Kohli has come true in Dubai. It was a great challenge, and I took the liberty of teasing him, asking him to hit me a six, but he never got angry. Kohli is a great batter, we all know that. But he is a great human being too,” Abrar said in a chat with Telecom Asia Sport, as quoted by Hindustan Times. How Kohli’s appreciation won his heart Talking about that particular incident, Abrar said Kohli praising him won his heart. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket? “He said, ‘well bowled’ after the match, and that made my day,” the 26-year-old added. “I have grown up idolising Kohli and used to tell Under-19 players that one day I will bowl to him.” Gill’s wicket celebration Of all the things that made headlines during the India vs Pakistan game, Abrar’s over-the-top celebration after dismissing Gill made the most noise. Abrar said it’s his style of celebrating the wicket and that he finds nothing wrong in this. Watch Video - View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) “That's my style, and I see nothing wrong with it. No official told me that I did anything wrong, but if it hurt anyone, I am sorry for that. It was not my intention to hurt anyone,” the spinner concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

How Kohli won Abrar Ahmed's heart after thrashing Pakistan in Champions Trophy

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar says Rohit Sharma-led team has a lot of shortcomings heading into the Champions Trophy Final against New Zealand on Mar 9 in Dubai. Gavaskar, also warned that India should not tinker with their playing XI for the title showdown match.
"They haven't because when you look at the openers, they haven't really given the Indian team the kind of start that they had hoped for. That has not happened. So, clearly, I think there's a shortcoming over there. Even with the new ball, you might want to in the first 10 overs. You definitely want to take about 2 or 3 wickets. That's also not quite been happening. In the middle overs, we have not got wickets, even though the runs have not been flowing. So those are areas that you get better in those areas, the better the chances of going on and winning the final," said Gavaskar as quoted by news outlet India Today.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/big-matter-for-the-country-suryakumar-backs-rohit-sharma-after-recent-controversy-on-fitness-and-captaincy-8830275">'Big matter for the country': Suryakumar backs Rohit Sharma after recent controversy on fitness and captaincy</a>
"I think it is going to be 4 spinners. It has to be. Why change now? It's shown Chakravarthy's inclusion, Kuldeep's inclusion has shown how effective they can be. And also, wicket-taking balls are the best dot balls in limited-overs cricket or any format of the game. So they've been doing that, so there should be no change at all," the former skipper added.
India and New Zealand will play in Champions Trophy Final for the second time in the history of the tournament. They had previously played each other in the 2000 Champions Trophy title showdown in Narobi, Kenya during which New Zealand emerged victorious - winning their first ever ICC title.
Ironically, New Zealand had beaten India for their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2021 as well. India, riding high after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, would be aiming at reversing the result this time around.

India and New Zealand will play in Champions Trophy Final for the second time in the history of the tournament. They had previously played each other in the 2000 Champions Trophy. Cricket Sports

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar says Rohit Sharma-led team has a lot of shortcomings heading into the Champions Trophy Final against New Zealand on Mar 9 in Dubai. Gavaskar, also warned that India should not tinker with their playing XI for the title showdown match. "They haven't because when you look at the openers, they haven't really given the Indian team the kind of start that they had hoped for. That has not happened. So, clearly, I think there's a shortcoming over there. Even with the new ball, you might want to in the first 10 overs. You definitely want to take about 2 or 3 wickets. That's also not quite been happening. In the middle overs, we have not got wickets, even though the runs have not been flowing. So those are areas that you get better in those areas, the better the chances of going on and winning the final," said Gavaskar as quoted by news outlet India Today. Also Read: 'Big matter for the country': Suryakumar backs Rohit Sharma after recent controversy on fitness and captaincy "I think it is going to be 4 spinners. It has to be. Why change now? It's shown Chakravarthy's inclusion, Kuldeep's inclusion has shown how effective they can be. And also, wicket-taking balls are the best dot balls in limited-overs cricket or any format of the game. So they've been doing that, so there should be no change at all," the former skipper added. India and New Zealand will play in Champions Trophy Final for the second time in the history of the tournament. They had previously played each other in the 2000 Champions Trophy title showdown in Narobi, Kenya during which New Zealand emerged victorious - winning their first ever ICC title. Ironically, New Zealand had beaten India for their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2021 as well. India, riding high after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, would be aiming at reversing the result this time around.

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Gavaskar highlights India's shortcomings ahead of title bout

India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has come out in support of Rohit Sharma after the recent controversy. Congress party member Shama Mohamed recently questioned Rohit's fitness and captaincy in a social media post. Mohamed, however, took down the post after severe backlash from across the country.
"As a captain, he has led us to four ICC events final, it is a big matter for the country. It is really big if someone plays this way for 15-20 years. I have watched him so closely, how hard he works during franchise and international cricket. He is right there at the top. I wish him luck for the final," Suryakumar said as quoted by news agency ANI on Shama's comment about Rohit's captaincy.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/195-runs-at-48-shreyas-iyer-will-be-point-of-difference-in-india-vs-new-zealand-champions-trophy-final-8830145">Shreyas Iyer will be point of difference in India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Final</a>
"India has been playing really well. If they continue to do so well, the final would be just another game. I would like everyone to perform well, from player number one to 15 and the support staff as well," he added.
India skipper Rohit Sharma is the first captain in the world to reach the finals of all the ICC tournaments. He achieved the milestone after India beat Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Mar 4 in Dubai.&nbsp;
Before this, Rohit had led India to 2023 ODI world Cup Final, 2024 T20 World Cup Final and 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final as well. As for the wins, India won the 2024 T20 WC under Rohit while losing the other finals, both to Australia.
India will now face the winner of New Zealand vs South Africa from the second semi-final in Champions Trophy title showdown on Mar 9 in Dubai.
As for his form, Rohit has been patchy in the ICC tournament and has scored 104 runs in four games at an average of 26 but at a strike rate of 107 with a best of 41.

Rohit has been patchy in the ICC tournament and has scored 104 runs in four games at an average of 26 but at a strike rate of 107 with a best of 41. Cricket Sports

India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has come out in support of Rohit Sharma after the recent controversy. Congress party member Shama Mohamed recently questioned Rohit's fitness and captaincy in a social media post. Mohamed, however, took down the post after severe backlash from across the country. "As a captain, he has led us to four ICC events final, it is a big matter for the country. It is really big if someone plays this way for 15-20 years. I have watched him so closely, how hard he works during franchise and international cricket. He is right there at the top. I wish him luck for the final," Suryakumar said as quoted by news agency ANI on Shama's comment about Rohit's captaincy. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer will be point of difference in India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Final "India has been playing really well. If they continue to do so well, the final would be just another game. I would like everyone to perform well, from player number one to 15 and the support staff as well," he added. India skipper Rohit Sharma is the first captain in the world to reach the finals of all the ICC tournaments. He achieved the milestone after India beat Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Mar 4 in Dubai. Before this, Rohit had led India to 2023 ODI world Cup Final, 2024 T20 World Cup Final and 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final as well. As for the wins, India won the 2024 T20 WC under Rohit while losing the other finals, both to Australia. India will now face the winner of New Zealand vs South Africa from the second semi-final in Champions Trophy title showdown on Mar 9 in Dubai. As for his form, Rohit has been patchy in the ICC tournament and has scored 104 runs in four games at an average of 26 but at a strike rate of 107 with a best of 41.

'Big matter for the country': Suryakumar backs Rohit Sharma after recent controversy on fitness and captaincy

England Cricket managing director Robert Key might have defended his team and their performance following their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/dismal-england-end-champions-trophy-2025-campaign-on-winless-note-as-south-africa-win-group-b-8769237" rel="dofollow">embarrassing exit</a> from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> but came down hard on English players for forgetting to draw a line during media interactions. Though they can still put behind such results with better performances in upcoming series, what will hurt them is the social media flak for some of their players' unnecessary remarks.
England was placed in Group B alongside Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan, losing to all three and exiting the tournament with zero points. Though their ODI woes seem to swell up a bit after this result, Key is keen on making right calls to bring their One-Day cricket back on track, wanting to start with something unrelated to the on-field game &ndash; the media interactions.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ben-stokes-to-lead-england-in-odis-rob-key-backs-all-rounder-to-succeed-jos-buttler-in-key-role-8828933" rel="dofollow">Ben Stokes to lead England in ODIs? Rob Key backs all-rounder to succeed Jos Buttler in key role</a>
<h2>What happened?</h2>
England toured India for the white-ball leg ahead of the first showpiece event of the year, losing seven of the eight contested matches across two formats. After several media reports of them skipping training sessions throughout the series made headlines, the head coach, Brendon McCullum and then-captain Jos Buttler defended it.&nbsp;
However, what went wrong for them was opener Ben Duckett&rsquo;s remarks after the series conclusion, saying England wouldn&rsquo;t mind losing to India in a bilateral series as long as England beat them in an ICC event final, which was far from what unfolded this time.&nbsp;
Following England&rsquo;s exit from the competition, Key addressed this, saying, "I have no issue with the way our guys go about things. But there's no doubt that we've got to get better when we're doing interviews when players are doing their post-match press conferences; we speak a lot of rubbish a lot of the time.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-rachin-ravindra-receives-highest-praise-from-england-great-ahead-of-champions-trophy-final-against-india-8829780" rel="dofollow">Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown</a>
Though Duckett&rsquo;s standout performance (227 runs in three matches) helped him escape fans&rsquo; mocking and backlash on social media, Key said despite every right effort put in to maintain the dressing room&rsquo;s decorum, such remarks are not welcomed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They're trying so hard to not sort of upset players in the dressing room, not try and give away something that they don't think they should, and then they end up creating headlines through that,&rdquo; Key said in a chat with Sky Sports.&nbsp;
&ldquo;But I don't kill people for the things they say. There's not a world in where we think the players don't care, that they don't want to go and get big scores, that they don't care about winning, that they're arrogant.&nbsp;
"That's absolutely not true. Half the time when they're getting themselves into trouble it's because they're actually trying to concentrate so hard that they end up making mistakes,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: England was placed in Group B alongside Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan, losing to all three and exiting the tournament with zero points.

England Cricket managing director Robert Key might have defended his team and their performance following their embarrassing exit from the Champions Trophy 2025 but came down hard on English players for forgetting to draw a line during media interactions. Though they can still put behind such results with better performances in upcoming series, what will hurt them is the social media flak for some of their players' unnecessary remarks. England was placed in Group B alongside Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan, losing to all three and exiting the tournament with zero points. Though their ODI woes seem to swell up a bit after this result, Key is keen on making right calls to bring their One-Day cricket back on track, wanting to start with something unrelated to the on-field game – the media interactions. Also read | Ben Stokes to lead England in ODIs? Rob Key backs all-rounder to succeed Jos Buttler in key role What happened? England toured India for the white-ball leg ahead of the first showpiece event of the year, losing seven of the eight contested matches across two formats. After several media reports of them skipping training sessions throughout the series made headlines, the head coach, Brendon McCullum and then-captain Jos Buttler defended it. However, what went wrong for them was opener Ben Duckett’s remarks after the series conclusion, saying England wouldn’t mind losing to India in a bilateral series as long as England beat them in an ICC event final, which was far from what unfolded this time. Following England’s exit from the competition, Key addressed this, saying, "I have no issue with the way our guys go about things. But there's no doubt that we've got to get better when we're doing interviews when players are doing their post-match press conferences; we speak a lot of rubbish a lot of the time.” Also read | Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown Though Duckett’s standout performance (227 runs in three matches) helped him escape fans’ mocking and backlash on social media, Key said despite every right effort put in to maintain the dressing room’s decorum, such remarks are not welcomed. “They're trying so hard to not sort of upset players in the dressing room, not try and give away something that they don't think they should, and then they end up creating headlines through that,” Key said in a chat with Sky Sports. “But I don't kill people for the things they say. There's not a world in where we think the players don't care, that they don't want to go and get big scores, that they don't care about winning, that they're arrogant. "That's absolutely not true. Half the time when they're getting themselves into trouble it's because they're actually trying to concentrate so hard that they end up making mistakes,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

“We speak a lot of rubbish” – ECB boss warns England players to maintain caution with media

As India is set to face off New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday (Mar 9) in Dubai, Shreyas Iyer could be holding the key for Rohit Sharma-led team in the middle overs once again. Iyer has been sensational since 1 Jan 2023 in the middle over (batting at 4-6), scoring 1,100 runs at an average of 47.82 with a best of 128 not out and two hundreds.
He was part of both the ICC ODI tournaments which India reached in the final of - 2023 ODI World Cup and ongoing Champions Trophy. In both these tournaments combined, Iyer has played 15 games and scored 725 runs at an astonishing average of 60 with two hundreds and a best of 128 not out.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-rachin-ravindra-receives-highest-praise-from-england-great-ahead-of-champions-trophy-final-against-india-8829780">Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown</a>
In the ongoing Champions Trophy, Iyer has scored 195 runs - the sixth highest overall and second most for India behind Virat Kohli's 217 runs.
Iyer has scored these runs in the Champions Trophy at an average of 48.75 with two fifties and a highest of 79. It is, however, the situations Iyer walked in to bat and then leaving the game firmly under India's control by the time he was out.
<h2>Iyer in Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
Iyer started the campaign with not much impact, scoring only 15 runs before getting out against Bangladesh, though India managed to chase down 229 easily. In the next game against Pakistan, Iyer, who scored 56, walked in with India at 100/2 and by the time he was done, India were just 30 runs away from the win.
In the next group stage match against New Zealand, he came in to bat when India were 22/2 and it soon became 30/3. The batter then added 98 runs for the fourth wicket with Axar Patel without losing the intent, despite a difficult pitch. After Axar was done, he added 44 runs with KL Rahul and was the fifth wicket to fall at 172, but made sure India stayed on course for a par-score. He contributed 79 runs in the match.
Come the semifinal against Australia, Iyer again walked in at 43/2 and added 91 runs for the third with Virat Kohli in a chase of 265 - his partnership with Kohli gave the team much-needed stability as India won the match by five wickets and cruised into the final.
With India's top three in sketchy form, Iyer will once again be in the spotlight during the final against the Kiwis in the repeat of the 2000 Champions Trophy title showdown.

In the ongoing Champions Trophy, Shreyas Iyer has scored 195 runs - sixth highest overall and second most for India behind Virat Kohli's 217 runs. Cricket Sports

As India is set to face off New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday (Mar 9) in Dubai, Shreyas Iyer could be holding the key for Rohit Sharma-led team in the middle overs once again. Iyer has been sensational since 1 Jan 2023 in the middle over (batting at 4-6), scoring 1,100 runs at an average of 47.82 with a best of 128 not out and two hundreds. He was part of both the ICC ODI tournaments which India reached in the final of - 2023 ODI World Cup and ongoing Champions Trophy. In both these tournaments combined, Iyer has played 15 games and scored 725 runs at an astonishing average of 60 with two hundreds and a best of 128 not out. Also Read: Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown In the ongoing Champions Trophy, Iyer has scored 195 runs - the sixth highest overall and second most for India behind Virat Kohli's 217 runs. Iyer has scored these runs in the Champions Trophy at an average of 48.75 with two fifties and a highest of 79. It is, however, the situations Iyer walked in to bat and then leaving the game firmly under India's control by the time he was out. Iyer in Champions Trophy 2025 Iyer started the campaign with not much impact, scoring only 15 runs before getting out against Bangladesh, though India managed to chase down 229 easily. In the next game against Pakistan, Iyer, who scored 56, walked in with India at 100/2 and by the time he was done, India were just 30 runs away from the win. In the next group stage match against New Zealand, he came in to bat when India were 22/2 and it soon became 30/3. The batter then added 98 runs for the fourth wicket with Axar Patel without losing the intent, despite a difficult pitch. After Axar was done, he added 44 runs with KL Rahul and was the fifth wicket to fall at 172, but made sure India stayed on course for a par-score. He contributed 79 runs in the match. Come the semifinal against Australia, Iyer again walked in at 43/2 and added 91 runs for the third with Virat Kohli in a chase of 265 - his partnership with Kohli gave the team much-needed stability as India won the match by five wickets and cruised into the final. With India's top three in sketchy form, Iyer will once again be in the spotlight during the final against the Kiwis in the repeat of the 2000 Champions Trophy title showdown.

'195 runs at 48.75': Shreyas Iyer will be point of difference in India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Final

Steve Smith will turn 36 this year, closing in on hanging his boots from the remaining two formats after announcing his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/the-final-shuffle-steve-smiths-odi-career-comes-to-a-close-8796381" rel="dofollow">shock ODI retirement</a> following Australia&rsquo;s exit from the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a>. Smith called time on his ODI career after losing to India in the semis tie in Dubai, where he top-scored for his team, hitting 77 in the first innings. However, the latest reports suggest that he has set his sights on his last away Ashes in 2027.
Smith is a batting giant, with his international numbers reflecting his class. The right-handed batter has scored over 17,000 runs across formats, with the bulk of them (10,271 runs in 116 matches) coming in Tests. Though he cleared his ambition of featuring in more franchise-based T20 Leagues worldwide since stepping aside from the ODIs, Smith kept Test cricket on the pedestal, wanting to give more to the format he thrives in the most.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-rachin-ravindra-receives-highest-praise-from-england-great-ahead-of-champions-trophy-final-against-india-8829780" rel="dofollow">Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown</a>
Per the latest report, Smith&rsquo;s ODI retirement has opened doors for him to stretch his Test career till the next two years, pushing for a final away Ashes appearance. By then, Smith will turn 38, trying to render his reflexes to play the moving ball in the chilly English conditions.
In a report published by Australian outlet The Age, Smith&rsquo;s manager Warren Craig has dismissed any thought of Smith giving up on his Test career anytime soon, indicating his want to feature against England (in their conditions) in the cricket&rsquo;s oldest rivalry.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He hasn&rsquo;t ruled anything out,&rdquo; Smith&rsquo;s manager said in a chat with The Age. &ldquo;He is still enjoying Test cricket, and whilst he still has that enjoyment, he will continue to play.&rdquo;
<h2>What&rsquo;s next for Smudge?</h2>
Known as Smudge among the fans and teammates, Smith has plenty of time to rest (this year) since he went unsold at the IPL Auction 2025 before resuming cricket.&nbsp;
Australia&rsquo;s next Test assignment is an away tour of the Caribbean, which begins shortly after (1st Test starting on June 25) the third WTC Final at the Lord&rsquo;s (June 11-15), where Australia will defend its title against the maiden finalist South Africa, where Smith would want to remain in shape and form for the home Ashes later this year.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-its-all-part-of-challenges-new-zealand-captain-santner-on-travel-row-8829569" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand captain Santner spares India in 'travel row' remark</a>
Besides Tests, Smith remains available for selection in the T20Is, and with Australia playing five against West Indies, he will stay in contention for a lengthy away tour.
Meanwhile, the home Ashes begins with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth starting November 21.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: After stepping aside from ODIs, Steve Smith kept Test cricket on the pedestal, wanting to give more to the format he thrives in the most.

Steve Smith will turn 36 this year, closing in on hanging his boots from the remaining two formats after announcing his shock ODI retirement following Australia’s exit from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. Smith called time on his ODI career after losing to India in the semis tie in Dubai, where he top-scored for his team, hitting 77 in the first innings. However, the latest reports suggest that he has set his sights on his last away Ashes in 2027. Smith is a batting giant, with his international numbers reflecting his class. The right-handed batter has scored over 17,000 runs across formats, with the bulk of them (10,271 runs in 116 matches) coming in Tests. Though he cleared his ambition of featuring in more franchise-based T20 Leagues worldwide since stepping aside from the ODIs, Smith kept Test cricket on the pedestal, wanting to give more to the format he thrives in the most. Also read | Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown Per the latest report, Smith’s ODI retirement has opened doors for him to stretch his Test career till the next two years, pushing for a final away Ashes appearance. By then, Smith will turn 38, trying to render his reflexes to play the moving ball in the chilly English conditions. In a report published by Australian outlet The Age, Smith’s manager Warren Craig has dismissed any thought of Smith giving up on his Test career anytime soon, indicating his want to feature against England (in their conditions) in the cricket’s oldest rivalry. “He hasn’t ruled anything out,” Smith’s manager said in a chat with The Age. “He is still enjoying Test cricket, and whilst he still has that enjoyment, he will continue to play.” What’s next for Smudge? Known as Smudge among the fans and teammates, Smith has plenty of time to rest (this year) since he went unsold at the IPL Auction 2025 before resuming cricket. Australia’s next Test assignment is an away tour of the Caribbean, which begins shortly after (1st Test starting on June 25) the third WTC Final at the Lord’s (June 11-15), where Australia will defend its title against the maiden finalist South Africa, where Smith would want to remain in shape and form for the home Ashes later this year. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand captain Santner spares India in 'travel row' remark Besides Tests, Smith remains available for selection in the T20Is, and with Australia playing five against West Indies, he will stay in contention for a lengthy away tour. Meanwhile, the home Ashes begins with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth starting November 21. (With inputs from agencies)

Steve Smith's ODI retirement opens door for his last away Ashes in 2027 – Report

New Zealand opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra" rel="dofollow">Rachin Ravindra</a> has garnered a lot of attention in his maiden <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> campaign as he did during his first ODI World Cup two years ago. The left-handed batter has smashed five ODI centuries to date - all coming in these two tournaments (three in the WC and two thus far in this competition).
Former England captain Michael Atherton showered praise on the youngster, calling him among the next generation&rsquo;s batting greats.
Against South Africa in a crucial semis clash in Lahore, Rachin scored a brilliant hundred batting first, scoring 108 with veteran Kane Williamson &ndash; long hailed as &lsquo;The Fab Four&rsquo; member, completing his 15th as New Zealand amassed 362/6 &ndash; the highest team total in the tournament history. The Kiwis beat the Proteas by 50 runs to cruise into the Champions Trophy final, scheduled this Sunday in Dubai against India.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-its-all-part-of-challenges-new-zealand-captain-santner-on-travel-row-8829569" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand captain Santner spares India in 'travel row' remark</a>
Putting him at par with England&rsquo;s Harry Brook and Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as future players, Atherton said, "Rachin Ravindra is one of the brightest young talents in the game.&nbsp;
"We say similar about Harry Brook, and there's Yashasvi Jaiswal too with India; these are the guys who are going to be among the handful of the next generation of greats.
"Kane Williamson has obviously been part of what we call 'The Fab Four', along with [Joe] Root, [Steve] Smith and [Virat] Kohli, and I think Ravindra is among the next group of players to take that on. He's a fantastic player; some of the shots he played in the semi-final were so stylish,&rdquo; the former cricketer-turned-broadcaster said while chatting on Sky Sports.
<h2>Hussain backs Black Caps in Final</h2>
After Proteas batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/proteas-david-miller-backs-rivals-new-zealand-to-beat-india-in-champions-trophy-2025-final-8821735" rel="dofollow">David Miller openly said he&rsquo;d be supporting New Zealand</a> in the Champions Trophy final against India, former England captain Nasser Hussain also threw his weight behind the Kiwis, saying they are unlikely to bottle in the summit clash against an unbeaten Indian team.
"They will not bottle it, they won't choke,&rdquo; Hussain asserted while talking to Sky Sports.
"We were having dinner with [former Australia batter] Aaron Finch, and he summed it up pretty well in saying New Zealand are never a side that beat themselves. And, by that, he means that they will rock up and they will put in a performance.
"All the way through the New Zealand lineup, they have some very, very tough cricketers who turn up to every single game and give it their absolute best - that's why they will always be there around semi-finals and finals,&rdquo; Hussain noted.
He added that the Kiwi team has the right blend of experienced and young cricketers, and even with all the resources, should they lose, it&rsquo;s because India would be a better team on the day.
"They also have that great mixture between senior pros that have been there year in, year out - like Kane Williamson, one of the all-time greats - and youth in the likes of Rachin Ravindra.
"They may well lose [New Zealand], but if they do, it will be because India beat them,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Former England captain Michael Atherton showered the highest praise on the youngster, calling him among the next generation’s batting greats.

New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra has garnered a lot of attention in his maiden Champions Trophy campaign as he did during his first ODI World Cup two years ago. The left-handed batter has smashed five ODI centuries to date - all coming in these two tournaments (three in the WC and two thus far in this competition). Former England captain Michael Atherton showered praise on the youngster, calling him among the next generation’s batting greats. Against South Africa in a crucial semis clash in Lahore, Rachin scored a brilliant hundred batting first, scoring 108 with veteran Kane Williamson – long hailed as ‘The Fab Four’ member, completing his 15th as New Zealand amassed 362/6 – the highest team total in the tournament history. The Kiwis beat the Proteas by 50 runs to cruise into the Champions Trophy final, scheduled this Sunday in Dubai against India. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand captain Santner spares India in 'travel row' remark Putting him at par with England’s Harry Brook and Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as future players, Atherton said, "Rachin Ravindra is one of the brightest young talents in the game. "We say similar about Harry Brook, and there's Yashasvi Jaiswal too with India; these are the guys who are going to be among the handful of the next generation of greats. "Kane Williamson has obviously been part of what we call 'The Fab Four', along with [Joe] Root, [Steve] Smith and [Virat] Kohli, and I think Ravindra is among the next group of players to take that on. He's a fantastic player; some of the shots he played in the semi-final were so stylish,” the former cricketer-turned-broadcaster said while chatting on Sky Sports. Hussain backs Black Caps in Final After Proteas batter David Miller openly said he’d be supporting New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final against India, former England captain Nasser Hussain also threw his weight behind the Kiwis, saying they are unlikely to bottle in the summit clash against an unbeaten Indian team. "They will not bottle it, they won't choke,” Hussain asserted while talking to Sky Sports. "We were having dinner with [former Australia batter] Aaron Finch, and he summed it up pretty well in saying New Zealand are never a side that beat themselves. And, by that, he means that they will rock up and they will put in a performance. "All the way through the New Zealand lineup, they have some very, very tough cricketers who turn up to every single game and give it their absolute best - that's why they will always be there around semi-finals and finals,” Hussain noted. He added that the Kiwi team has the right blend of experienced and young cricketers, and even with all the resources, should they lose, it’s because India would be a better team on the day. "They also have that great mixture between senior pros that have been there year in, year out - like Kane Williamson, one of the all-time greats - and youth in the likes of Rachin Ravindra. "They may well lose [New Zealand], but if they do, it will be because India beat them,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Rachin Ravindra receives highest praise from England great ahead of Champions Trophy showdown

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/new-zealand-captain-mitchell-santner-spills-beans-on-mantra-to-beat-india-in-champions-trophy-2025-final-8822948" rel="dofollow">New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner</a> said he knows India is well-equipped with the playing conditions in Dubai ahead of the Sunday Showdown in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a>. The left-armer also commented on the &lsquo;travel row&rsquo; that made headlines throughout this tournament, adding &lsquo;it&rsquo;s all part of the challenge&rsquo; and that the players must be ready and prepared for it.
The travel row arose as India ended up playing all of its matches in Dubai, which was agreed upon as a neutral venue for the team's matches so that the Men in Blue didn't have to play in the host nation Pakistan, given the current political-security situation between the South Asian neighbours.
Santner&rsquo;s New Zealand qualified for the Champions Trophy final after beating South Africa in the second semis in Lahore on Wednesday (Mar 5); they then travelled to Dubai &ndash; the venue for the summit clash, to face the unbeaten Indian side in the CT final for the first time in 25 years.&nbsp;
During the group stage tie earlier, India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to stand tall in the standings, later beating Australia in the semis to punch their final ticket.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-why-dubai-hosting-india-games-making-everyone-hate-watching-indian-cricket-8827057" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket?</a>
However, amid all the talks around India's schedule, placed in Group A, enjoying all benefits of staying in one city, one hotel, practising at one training ground and playing all their matches at a single venue, unlike remaining participating teams, including hosts Pakistan, who juggled across three separate cities (Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore) for their scheduled league games, Santner said moving around (for matches) feels usual, and that his teammates understand the logistical challenges in today&rsquo;s cricket.
"It's just the general feel of this tournament, moving around a lot. It's all part of the challenge. I think we've been to every place here,&rdquo; Santner said after landing in Dubai for the final.
&ldquo;Obviously, in Pakistan and Dubai. I think the guys understand it's part of it these days. As long as you're ready to go for the game, it's fine.&rdquo;
<h2>&lsquo;India knows the conditions well&rsquo;</h2>
Having played and lost to India in Dubai the past Sunday, Santner admitted knowing whom they are squaring off against in the CT Final. Commenting on the opposition&rsquo;s gameplay throughout, Santner said India has played here and knows the conditions better than them.
He also noted the pitch&rsquo;s nature compared to the one they played on in Lahore, saying it&rsquo;s going to be on the slower side.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/proteas-david-miller-backs-rivals-new-zealand-to-beat-india-in-champions-trophy-2025-final-8821735" rel="dofollow">Proteas Miller backs rivals New Zealand to beat India in Champions Trophy final</a>
"They've played all their games here in Dubai and know that surface. Obviously, the surface will dictate a little bit of how we want to operate. It might be a little bit slower than what we got in Lahore. It might be more of a scrap, but we're down to scrap," he said.
"We've come against a good side. I think we'll be better for the run we had the other day against them. We've had a bit of a roll on. Hopefully, it continues," Santner added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: During the group stage tie, India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to stand tall in the standings, later beating Australia in the semis to punch their final ticket.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he knows India is well-equipped with the playing conditions in Dubai ahead of the Sunday Showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The left-armer also commented on the ‘travel row’ that made headlines throughout this tournament, adding ‘it’s all part of the challenge’ and that the players must be ready and prepared for it. The travel row arose as India ended up playing all of its matches in Dubai, which was agreed upon as a neutral venue for the team's matches so that the Men in Blue didn't have to play in the host nation Pakistan, given the current political-security situation between the South Asian neighbours. Santner’s New Zealand qualified for the Champions Trophy final after beating South Africa in the second semis in Lahore on Wednesday (Mar 5); they then travelled to Dubai – the venue for the summit clash, to face the unbeaten Indian side in the CT final for the first time in 25 years. During the group stage tie earlier, India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to stand tall in the standings, later beating Australia in the semis to punch their final ticket. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Why are fans 'hate-watching' Indian cricket? However, amid all the talks around India's schedule, placed in Group A, enjoying all benefits of staying in one city, one hotel, practising at one training ground and playing all their matches at a single venue, unlike remaining participating teams, including hosts Pakistan, who juggled across three separate cities (Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore) for their scheduled league games, Santner said moving around (for matches) feels usual, and that his teammates understand the logistical challenges in today’s cricket. "It's just the general feel of this tournament, moving around a lot. It's all part of the challenge. I think we've been to every place here,” Santner said after landing in Dubai for the final. “Obviously, in Pakistan and Dubai. I think the guys understand it's part of it these days. As long as you're ready to go for the game, it's fine.” ‘India knows the conditions well’ Having played and lost to India in Dubai the past Sunday, Santner admitted knowing whom they are squaring off against in the CT Final. Commenting on the opposition’s gameplay throughout, Santner said India has played here and knows the conditions better than them. He also noted the pitch’s nature compared to the one they played on in Lahore, saying it’s going to be on the slower side. Also read | Proteas Miller backs rivals New Zealand to beat India in Champions Trophy final "They've played all their games here in Dubai and know that surface. Obviously, the surface will dictate a little bit of how we want to operate. It might be a little bit slower than what we got in Lahore. It might be more of a scrap, but we're down to scrap," he said. "We've come against a good side. I think we'll be better for the run we had the other day against them. We've had a bit of a roll on. Hopefully, it continues," Santner added. (With inputs from agencies)

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: New Zealand captain Santner spares India in 'travel row' remark

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (Mar 6) announced the officials of the Champions Trophy 2025, and India was fortunate to avoid Richard Kettleborough&rsquo;s appointment. Instead Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel were named the on-field men in charge while Joel Wilson would serve as the third umpire with Kumar Dharmasena as fourth official. As expected experienced Ranjan Madugalle will serve as the match referee for the contest.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India avoid Kettleborough curse<o:p></o:p></h2>
Since the 2014 T20 World Cup final, India as been on the wrong end of results whenever Kettleborough has been in charge of a big game in a knockout ICC tournament. The English official was in charge of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup final while he was also in the middle for the 2016 T20 World Cup when India lost to the West Indies. <o:p></o:p>
The fact only gets worse as Kettleborough was also in charge of India&rsquo;s Champions Trophy 2017 and 2023 ODI World Cup matches against Pakistan and Australia, which they lost. Interestingly, he was also involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup final as the third umpire where India had to stage an incredible comeback to win.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Reiffel, 58, a former Australian fast bowler with over 200 Test and ODI wickets, officiated as an on-field umpire during South Africa's semifinal against New Zealand in Lahore. Illingworth, 61, a former England left-arm spinner, was also part of the officiating team during India's semifinal clash against Australia in Dubai.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a> 
The final of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (Mar 9).<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">List of officials for India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final<o:p></o:p></h2>
On-field Umpires: Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth<o:p></o:p>
Third Umpire: Joel Wilson<o:p></o:p>
Fourth Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena<o:p></o:p>
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle<o:p></o:p>

Cricket, Sports: The ICC on Thursday (Mar 6) announced the officials of the Champions Trophy 2025 as India were fortunate to avoid Richard Kettleborough’s appointment.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (Mar 6) announced the officials of the Champions Trophy 2025, and India was fortunate to avoid Richard Kettleborough’s appointment. Instead Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel were named the on-field men in charge while Joel Wilson would serve as the third umpire with Kumar Dharmasena as fourth official. As expected experienced Ranjan Madugalle will serve as the match referee for the contest. India avoid Kettleborough curse Since the 2014 T20 World Cup final, India as been on the wrong end of results whenever Kettleborough has been in charge of a big game in a knockout ICC tournament. The English official was in charge of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup final while he was also in the middle for the 2016 T20 World Cup when India lost to the West Indies. The fact only gets worse as Kettleborough was also in charge of India’s Champions Trophy 2017 and 2023 ODI World Cup matches against Pakistan and Australia, which they lost. Interestingly, he was also involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup final as the third umpire where India had to stage an incredible comeback to win. Reiffel, 58, a former Australian fast bowler with over 200 Test and ODI wickets, officiated as an on-field umpire during South Africa's semifinal against New Zealand in Lahore. Illingworth, 61, a former England left-arm spinner, was also part of the officiating team during India's semifinal clash against Australia in Dubai. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how The final of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (Mar 9). List of officials for India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final On-field Umpires: Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth Third Umpire: Joel Wilson Fourth Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle

Champions Trophy 2025: Not Kettleborough but Richard Illingworth to officiate India vs New Zealand final

England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key has backed Ben Stokes to succeed Jos Buttler after he resigned from white-ball captaincy last week. The decision from Buttler came after England exited the Champions Trophy 2025 at the group stage, losing all three matches including against Afghanistan. According to Key, Stokes is one of the options and rates him high for his captaincy stint in the red-ball format where England have flourished ever since he took over in June 2022. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Key backs Stokes for captaincy role<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen, so it'd be stupid not to look at him. It's just the knock-on effect of what that means. I believe that Test cricket and 50-over cricket are probably closer now, with T20 the outlier," said Key, as quoted by Sky Sports.<o:p></o:p>
"I think nothing's off the table," Key said of the 33-year-old. "You look at every single option and you think, 'What is the best thing to do?'&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
On Friday (Feb 28), Buttler decided to step down from his role as white-ball captain of England, which has led to host of names linked with the vacant position. Harry Brook is the front-runner to take the captaincy role having been recently announced as the vice-captain when England toured India before the Champions Trophy.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a> 
However, Stokes remains one of the best options having proven his worth in the Test format. Interestingly, he had announced his retirement from the ODI format in 2022, but retracted to be in the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. <o:p></o:p>
England have achieved major success under Stokes in Test format having won series against New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa while also performing on multiple fronts to win matches for the side. Ben Duckett and Phil Salt are part of the conversation to England in white-ball cricket.<o:p></o:p>

Cricket, Sports: England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key has backed Ben Stokes to succeed Jos Buttler after he resigned from white-ball captaincy last week.

England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key has backed Ben Stokes to succeed Jos Buttler after he resigned from white-ball captaincy last week. The decision from Buttler came after England exited the Champions Trophy 2025 at the group stage, losing all three matches including against Afghanistan. According to Key, Stokes is one of the options and rates him high for his captaincy stint in the red-ball format where England have flourished ever since he took over in June 2022. Key backs Stokes for captaincy role "Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen, so it'd be stupid not to look at him. It's just the knock-on effect of what that means. I believe that Test cricket and 50-over cricket are probably closer now, with T20 the outlier," said Key, as quoted by Sky Sports. "I think nothing's off the table," Key said of the 33-year-old. "You look at every single option and you think, 'What is the best thing to do?'” On Friday (Feb 28), Buttler decided to step down from his role as white-ball captain of England, which has led to host of names linked with the vacant position. Harry Brook is the front-runner to take the captaincy role having been recently announced as the vice-captain when England toured India before the Champions Trophy. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how However, Stokes remains one of the best options having proven his worth in the Test format. Interestingly, he had announced his retirement from the ODI format in 2022, but retracted to be in the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. England have achieved major success under Stokes in Test format having won series against New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa while also performing on multiple fronts to win matches for the side. Ben Duckett and Phil Salt are part of the conversation to England in white-ball cricket.

Ben Stokes to lead England in ODIs? Rob Key backs all-rounder to succeed Jos Buttler in key role

New Zealand have vowed to "find little ways to win moments" against India after making Champions Trophy history to power into Sunday's final.
The Black Caps posted a Champions Trophy record 362-6 before restricting South Africa to 312-9 in Wednesday's semi-final in Lahore.&nbsp;
They now face India in Dubai to decide the winners of the eight-nation 50-over tournament.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/5-and-counting-rachin-wasnt-supposed-to-played-in-odi-wc-2023-but-hasnt-looked-back-ever-since-in-icc-odi-events-8828387"> '5 and counting': Rachin wasn't supposed to play in ODI WC 2023 but hasn't looked back ever since</a>
Rohit Sharma's India are playing all their games in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan because of political tensions.
India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage but batting all-rounder Daryl Mitchell said that would have no bearing on Sunday's result.
"Final is a new day," Mitchell said after scoring 49 against South Africa.
"Really excited to be stuck into that challenge and will adapt to whatever surface and conditions we get on the day, and will find little ways to win moments throughout that game."
The tournament's tangled schedule, with teams flying in and out of the United Arab Emirates from Pakistan while India have stayed put, has been hugely controversial.
The pitches have been vastly different in the two countries.
Pakistan tracks produced big totals, in contrast to the slow and turning decks of Dubai's international cricket stadium.
"We don't quite know how the Dubai pitch is like," said Rachin Ravindra, one of the heroes of New Zealand's semi-final win with a 101-ball 108.
"We know our game against India it did turn and Aussie v India (semi-final) didn't turn so much, so I think we pride ourselves in adapting and playing the situation in front of us."
India unleashed four spinners against New Zealand in the group phase and Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 to bowl the Black Caps out for 205 in their chase of 250.
Rohit's side were unchanged in their four-wicket win over Australia as the spin-heavy selection came up trumps again, albeit on a pitch that turned a little less this time around.
"They are all pretty good," Mitchell said of India's slow bowlers.
"But we have got some pretty good spinners ourselves."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy FINAL: Rohit Sharma's India are playing all their games in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan because of political tensions.

New Zealand have vowed to "find little ways to win moments" against India after making Champions Trophy history to power into Sunday's final. The Black Caps posted a Champions Trophy record 362-6 before restricting South Africa to 312-9 in Wednesday's semi-final in Lahore. They now face India in Dubai to decide the winners of the eight-nation 50-over tournament. Also Read: '5 and counting': Rachin wasn't supposed to play in ODI WC 2023 but hasn't looked back ever since Rohit Sharma's India are playing all their games in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan because of political tensions. India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage but batting all-rounder Daryl Mitchell said that would have no bearing on Sunday's result. "Final is a new day," Mitchell said after scoring 49 against South Africa. "Really excited to be stuck into that challenge and will adapt to whatever surface and conditions we get on the day, and will find little ways to win moments throughout that game." The tournament's tangled schedule, with teams flying in and out of the United Arab Emirates from Pakistan while India have stayed put, has been hugely controversial. The pitches have been vastly different in the two countries. Pakistan tracks produced big totals, in contrast to the slow and turning decks of Dubai's international cricket stadium. "We don't quite know how the Dubai pitch is like," said Rachin Ravindra, one of the heroes of New Zealand's semi-final win with a 101-ball 108. "We know our game against India it did turn and Aussie v India (semi-final) didn't turn so much, so I think we pride ourselves in adapting and playing the situation in front of us." India unleashed four spinners against New Zealand in the group phase and Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 to bowl the Black Caps out for 205 in their chase of 250. Rohit's side were unchanged in their four-wicket win over Australia as the spin-heavy selection came up trumps again, albeit on a pitch that turned a little less this time around. "They are all pretty good," Mitchell said of India's slow bowlers. "But we have got some pretty good spinners ourselves." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final | Kiwis determined to 'find little ways' against India

Team India is all set to take on New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (Mar 9). They will be looking to crush the Kiwis and win the tournament for the second time and earn hamdsome rewards.&nbsp;But how much could each player from the Indian side earn in case they win the final of the Champions Trophy on Sunday?
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Will Indian players get hefty rewards?</h2>
We don&rsquo;t have to go far for India&rsquo;s last success with the senior men&rsquo;s side as they won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean islands in June. The success did not go unnoticed as then-Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah rewarded the Indian team with a bumper INR 1.25 billion ($14.4 million). The prize money by the BCCI was divided evenly including the coaching staff, meaning each player got roughly INR 80 million ($920,000).
If this is the case on Sunday, the BCCI could reward the Indian team with a similar prize money. Several players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Axar Patel were part of the T20 World Cup winning side and could benefit again.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
In contrast, the 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad received INR 10 million, which has already been multiplied by eight. So it will be interesting to see how much does the BCCI pay to the Indian players if they clinch glory in the Champions Trophy 2025.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India take on NZ in final</h2>
For the second time in eight days, India and New Zealand will meet in the Champions Trophy, with the tournament up for stakes on Sunday (March 9). India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage encounter and will be hoping for a similar result while the Kiwis look to add more misery over India having beaten them in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final.<o:p></o:p>

Cricket, Sports: Team India is all set to take on New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the Men in Blue search for their third title.

Team India is all set to take on New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (Mar 9). They will be looking to crush the Kiwis and win the tournament for the second time and earn hamdsome rewards. But how much could each player from the Indian side earn in case they win the final of the Champions Trophy on Sunday? Will Indian players get hefty rewards? We don’t have to go far for India’s last success with the senior men’s side as they won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean islands in June. The success did not go unnoticed as then-Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah rewarded the Indian team with a bumper INR 1.25 billion ($14.4 million). The prize money by the BCCI was divided evenly including the coaching staff, meaning each player got roughly INR 80 million ($920,000). If this is the case on Sunday, the BCCI could reward the Indian team with a similar prize money. Several players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Axar Patel were part of the T20 World Cup winning side and could benefit again. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how In contrast, the 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad received INR 10 million, which has already been multiplied by eight. So it will be interesting to see how much does the BCCI pay to the Indian players if they clinch glory in the Champions Trophy 2025. India take on NZ in final For the second time in eight days, India and New Zealand will meet in the Champions Trophy, with the tournament up for stakes on Sunday (March 9). India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the group stage encounter and will be hoping for a similar result while the Kiwis look to add more misery over India having beaten them in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Champions Trophy 2025: Here's how much Team India players earned when they last won an ICC tournament. Know more

Rachin Ravindra was not supposed to play the ODI World Cup 2023 in India - he was not even in the squad. Michael Bracewell then got injured and Ravindra was roped in; since then he hasn't looked back. The batter hit a century in his opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 - 123 not out against England.
The batter went on to hit two more centuries in the 50-over ICC event and finished with 578 runs as New Zealand's run ended with a semi-final loss against a red-hot India.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/4-wickets-in-3-balls-pak-shakeel-given-time-out-and-does-what-national-team-is-going-through-caught-napping-as-game-moves-on-8827964">'4 wickets in 3 balls': Pak's Shakeel does what national team is going through - caught napping as game moves on</a>
Coming to Champions Trophy 2025, Ravindra again started with a century - 112 against Bangladesh. During the semi-final against South Africa on Mar 5 in Lahore (Pakistan), Ravindra hit another century - 108 as his team marched to the final on the back of a 50-run win.
With his latest century, Ravindra became the first batter in the world to hit his first five tons in an ICC ODI tournament (World Cup and Champions Trophy).
The batter has scored 804 runs in 13 innings at an average of 67 - the highest among 80 batters with minimum 750 runs in ICC ODI tournaments (World Cup and Champions Trophy).
Thanks to Ravindra, New Zealand posted 362/6 in 50 overs - the highest ever innings total in the Champions Trophy. In reply, South Africa could only manage 312/9 - that too thanks to a 67-ball ton by David Miller which came rather too late.
New Zealand now face India in the tournament final on Mar 9 in Dubai, UAE. The two teams had faced off in the group-stage at the same venue on Mar 2 with India emerging out triumphant.
The same two teams had clashed in Champions Trophy Final in the year 2000 as well when the Kiwis won their first ICC silverware.

Rachin Ravindra was not supposed to play the ODI World Cup 2023 in India - he was not even in the squad. Michael Bracewell then got injured Ravindra was roped in and he hasn't looked back ever since.

Rachin Ravindra was not supposed to play the ODI World Cup 2023 in India - he was not even in the squad. Michael Bracewell then got injured and Ravindra was roped in; since then he hasn't looked back. The batter hit a century in his opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 - 123 not out against England. The batter went on to hit two more centuries in the 50-over ICC event and finished with 578 runs as New Zealand's run ended with a semi-final loss against a red-hot India. Also Read: '4 wickets in 3 balls': Pak's Shakeel does what national team is going through - caught napping as game moves on Coming to Champions Trophy 2025, Ravindra again started with a century - 112 against Bangladesh. During the semi-final against South Africa on Mar 5 in Lahore (Pakistan), Ravindra hit another century - 108 as his team marched to the final on the back of a 50-run win. With his latest century, Ravindra became the first batter in the world to hit his first five tons in an ICC ODI tournament (World Cup and Champions Trophy). The batter has scored 804 runs in 13 innings at an average of 67 - the highest among 80 batters with minimum 750 runs in ICC ODI tournaments (World Cup and Champions Trophy). Thanks to Ravindra, New Zealand posted 362/6 in 50 overs - the highest ever innings total in the Champions Trophy. In reply, South Africa could only manage 312/9 - that too thanks to a 67-ball ton by David Miller which came rather too late. New Zealand now face India in the tournament final on Mar 9 in Dubai, UAE. The two teams had faced off in the group-stage at the same venue on Mar 2 with India emerging out triumphant. The same two teams had clashed in Champions Trophy Final in the year 2000 as well when the Kiwis won their first ICC silverware.

'5 and counting': Rachin wasn't supposed to play in ODI WC 2023 but hasn't looked back ever since

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