Howrah (West Bengal) [India], March 8: As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand approaches, former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla shared his thoughts on what promises to be an exciting and intense contest. The final, scheduled for March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium, will see India face New Zealand in a highly anticipated match.
Shukla described the clash as a “nail-biting” encounter, acknowledging the impressive performances from both teams leading up to the final. “India is performing very well under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. The balance of our team is very good. We cannot take New Zealand lightly because their performance is also outstanding. The final match will be nail-biting,” he said.
India has remained undefeated in the tournament so far, while New Zealand has shown excellent form with both bat and ball under captain Mitchell Santner’s leadership. This final is also seen as a sequel to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, where New Zealand emerged victorious. India, having faced losses to the Kiwis in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final, will be looking for redemption.
Performance Highlights and Expectations
Shukla wasn’t the only one impressed by India’s key players. Kuldeep Yadav’s former coach, Kapil Dev Pandey, also praised the performances of Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami, both of whom have had stellar outings during the tournament.
“This is a very important match for the players and also for the countrymen,” said Pandey. “Our team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is performing very well. Virat Kohli is in good form, and Shreyas Iyer is also playing very well. The partnership should be nice. If we bat first, our runs on the scoreboard should be more than 300. If we bowl first, we must stop the opponent at 240-260… Mohammad Shami is the best bowler we have.”
Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami’s Key Contributions
Shreyas Iyer, who has been in exceptional form, has amassed 1,773 runs in 40 innings at an average of 52.14, with four centuries and 12 fifties. This year alone, Iyer has scored 376 runs in seven ODIs, averaging 53.71, with a strike rate of 96.16. His recent performances have made him one of India’s key players in the tournament.
Mohammed Shami, who was instrumental in India’s victory with figures of 3/48 in 10 overs in a recent match, has also been impressive in the Champions Trophy. With eight wickets in four matches at an average of 19.88, Shami currently holds the second spot among the highest wicket-takers in the tournament, cementing his status as one of the top bowlers in the competition.
As India prepares to face New Zealand in the final, both teams will be looking to leave their mark on the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India aiming for a historic victory and New Zealand looking to continue their strong performance. The match is expected to be a thrilling contest, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the outcome.