India vs New Zealand Pitch For Champions Trophy 2025 Final Revealed

Just two days before the final of the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the discussion has focused on the surface nature of the all-important clash on March 9.

The Blue Brigade, having played the entire tournament at the same venue, is fully aware of all the surfaces in the square. At the same time, the Blackcaps will need to pay closer attention to recalling their position when they faced the Rohit Sharma-led side in the group stage of the event.

New Zealand exposed to India’s spin weapon in Dubai

During the last league stage clash, the Kiwis displayed a brilliant performance with the ball, especially in the powerplay overs, as they reduced the blue brigade to 37/3. But the 98-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel provided the 2013 title winners some stability in the batting department.

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The former smashed 79 runs in 98 deliveries, shouldering on four boundaries and a couple of sixes at a strike rate of 80, while Axar creamed 42 runs. Hardik Pandya’s 45-run knock in as many deliveries was enough to push them to 249/9 in their allotted 50 overs.

Rachin Ravindra, looking to guide the short ball over the third man region, fell short of the boundary line, while most of the batters couldn’t help Kane Williamson from the other end. The former New Zealand captain stayed almost till the end for his 81 runs in 120 deliveries, thanks to a strike rate of 67.5, but that wasn’t enough for a successful chase.

Varun Chakravarthy, India’s mystery spinner, celebrated his maiden ODI five-wicket haul to pack up the Indian side for 205 runs in 45.3 overs as they fell short of the goal by 44 runs.

India vs Pakistan pitch to be used for Champions Trophy 2025 final

The surface for the eight-event tournament final will be the same as the one used for the Group A league fixture between India and Pakistan on February 23. As with most of the other tracks, it will also be slow and sluggish, offering purchase to the spinners, which none of the four playing spinners of Rohit’s army will mind.

The average score in Dubai in the four games so far is 246, with 264 in the semifinal by Australia being the highest first-innings total. Rohit's army chased down the target in the 49th over, losing six wickets. That’s nearly 50 runs short of the average score of the tournament’s leg that took place in Pakistan.

In the Pakistan clash, the Blue Brigade restricted the runners-up of the last season to just 242 before Virat Kohli’s masterclass century chased down the target quite comfortably.

Australia's curator, Matthew Sandery, manages 10 surfaces at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. All are similar in pace. After two weeks of rest, the ICC decided to reuse the pitch for the Pakistan game.

India’s batting coach is eager to take the pitch out of the equation

India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, expressed that they are trying to knock the pitch out of the equation in terms of batting because their batters are in great touch.

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“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, it's overall nature hasn't shifted much.” Kotak expressed just before their nets at the ICC Academy on March 07.

“However, the batting has been excellent. And secondly, we've been fortunate to get solid starts, and on occasions when those starts were lacking, the middle order stepped up.” The veteran concluded.