New Zealand has won the toss and chose to bat first in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand has brought in Nathan Smith in place of injured Matt Henry. Rohit Sharma, however, feels it is absolutely fine to chase on the pitch, having to bowl in the second innings so far in the tournament. And India is playing the same team as in the semi-final. After months of chaos over hosting rights, the tournament concludes successfully. Returning after eight years, Pakistan earned hosting rights after 29 years, but India’s refusal to tour moved all their matches, including the final, to Dubai. While India enjoyed logistical ease, other teams traveled extensively. Amid criticism, New Zealand remained unfazed, accepting challenges with adequate rest. India enters the final unbeaten, boasting a dominant batting lineup. Shubman Gill’s ton against Bangladesh and Virat Kohli’s match-winning knocks, including the century against Pakistan, have been standout performances. The middle order, anchored by Shreyas Iyer with support from KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel, has been reliable. Initially favoring a three-spinner, two-pacer setup, India introduced Varun Chakravarthy in place of Harshit Rana, a move that paid off. Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul against New Zealand and key scalps in the semi-final, including Travis Head, have bolstered India’s bowling attack. Read also: IND vs NZ Live: ICC CT 2025 Final - Key Stats & Commentary New Zealand, on the other hand, is known for rising to the occasion in ICC events. Despite losing to India in the group stage, they bounced back in the semi-final against South Africa, where Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra smashed centuries. The team has also considered deploying a four-spinner attack to counter India’s strong batting unit. However, Matt Henry’s injury remains a concern for the Kiwis. History favors New Zealand in ICC clashes against India. New Zealand has twice shattered India’s ICC dreams near the line—in the 2000 Champions Trophy final and the 2021 WTC final. The scars of the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final defeat are yet alive. Meanwhile, if Rohit Sharma manages to clinch victory today, he will become only the third Indian captain to lift the Champions Trophy, following in the footsteps of Sourav Ganguly (2002) and MS Dhoni (2013). With both teams ready for the ultimate showdown, the stage is set for an electrifying battle. Can India maintain their unbeaten streak and reclaim the Champions Trophy, or will New Zealand once again play the role of India’s ICC nemesis? Playing XIs for New Zealand and India for the final: New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith, Will O'Rourke India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy