Dubai (UAE) [India], March 8: The highly anticipated final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 between India and New Zealand, set to take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium, has captured massive interest. All 25,000 tickets for the match have been sold out, underscoring the enormous excitement surrounding the event.
Ticket prices ranged from AED 250 for general admission to AED 12,000 for exclusive Sky Box hospitality, generating an estimated total of AED 9 million in revenue from ticket sales.
India, undefeated in the tournament so far, will take on a formidable New Zealand team, which has displayed exceptional all-round strength under the captaincy of Mitchell Santner. The final promises to be an epic clash, with India seeking revenge for their losses to New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
This final also marks a significant historical connection, as it will be a sequel to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand emerged victorious. India will be aiming to rewrite the script this time around.
Unlike other teams, India did not travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and played all their matches in Dubai, while other teams had to alternate between Pakistan and Dubai during the league stages and semifinals. This scheduling decision has stirred some controversy, with former cricketers like Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton suggesting that it has given India an advantage, with reduced travel time and familiarity with Dubai’s conditions.
New Zealand, despite missing out on the top spot in Group A, is expected to bounce back stronger in the final, armed with the experience gained from the tournament. The key for the Kiwis will be how they adapt to the playing conditions in Dubai, which are different from the wickets in Pakistan, and how they strategize against India’s formidable lineup.
The two teams faced off earlier in the tournament, with India defeating New Zealand by 44 runs. India posted a total of 249 runs, and New Zealand fell short, being all out for 205 runs in the 46th over. The match saw standout performances, including Matt Henry’s brilliant bowling effort for New Zealand, taking 5/42. India’s spinners, led by the enigmatic Varun Chakravarthy, were the stars of the match, with Chakravarthy taking 5/42 in only his second One Day International appearance.
The final promises to be an electrifying contest between two cricketing giants, with both teams having their sights set on the coveted ICC Champions Trophy title.