As India prepares to take on New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9, all eyes will be on middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer. He has been a vital contributor to India’s unbeaten run in the tournament, combining caution with aggression to deliver strong performances in the 50-over format.
With India yet to lose a match and New Zealand showcasing solid performances under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, the final promises to be a thrilling rematch of the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, which the Kiwis won. The Men in Blue will also look to settle past scores, having lost to New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
Iyer has an impressive record against New Zealand in ODIs. In nine matches against the Blackcaps, he has scored 563 runs in eight innings at an average of 70.37 and a strike rate of 100.71. He has registered two centuries and four half-centuries, with his highest score being 105.
One of his standout performances against New Zealand came in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal, where he smashed a 70-ball 105, hitting four boundaries and eight sixes at Wankhede Stadium. His 67-ball century remains the fastest by any batter in a Cricket World Cup knockout match.
Iyer’s success against the Kiwis extends to Test cricket as well. He made a memorable Test debut in November 2021 against New Zealand, scoring a century.
Overall, against New Zealand in all formats, Iyer has accumulated 990 runs in 23 innings at an average of 47.14, including three centuries and six fifties. His highest score remains 105*.
Currently, Iyer is the sixth-highest run-scorer in the tournament and India’s second-highest with 195 runs in four matches, averaging 48.75 with a strike rate of 79.91, including two half-centuries. In seven ODIs this year, he has amassed 376 runs at an average of 53.71 and a strike rate of 96.16, with four fifties and a top score of 79.
With his ability to handle pressure and his proven track record against New Zealand, Iyer will be a key player for India as they aim to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy title.