India vs. New Zealand-Can India Overcome the Jinx in ICC Finals?

As the cricket fraternity waits with bated breath for the highly-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 final, India stands on the threshold of history. To be played against New Zealand in Dubai on March 9, this game offers a golden chance for India to put an end to a 37-year-old record of never having beaten the Kiwis in an ICC final. But the task is Herculean, given that New Zealand has always been a thorn in the side of India in big games.

New Zealand-The Finalists' Paradise

New Zealand has denied India a big ICC trophy twice, beating them both in the earlier matches. The first time was back in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Cup final, then known as the Champions Trophy, when the Black Caps edged a nail-biting match. Again, more recently, in 2021, New Zealand thumped India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, cementing their image as one of the most fighting sides in world cricket.

Ex-England skipper Nasser Hussain has issued a warning to India, stating that New Zealand is not a side to fall apart under pressure. "They will not bottle it, they won't choke. Aaron Finch and I were having an evening meal and he put their words quite correctly when he said New Zealand are never a team that beat themselves. And that means they'll rock up and they'll go out and play a performance," Hussain asserted in his presentation on Sky Sports.

What Makes New Zealand So Deadly?

One of the strongest assets of the New Zealand cricket team is that they are great under pressure. They have come as far as the final of numerous ICC events, including the World Cup finals of 2015 and 2019, and this has shown their consistency and temperament. In Hussain's opinion, the key to their success is that they have just the right amount of experience combined with young blood.

"They have that good mix between senior veterans who have been around year in, year out—like Kane Williamson, one of all-time greats—and youth, in the form of Rachin Ravindra," he further added. This mix provides the team with an always consistent foundation along with new energy to the game.

New Zealand's capacity to cope with varying conditions and keep their cool in pressure-cooker situations makes them one of the most resilient sides to overcome. Their tactical sense and discipline have been key factors in their consistent success on the international scene.

India's Opportunity to Rewrite History

Although India has so far failed to counter New Zealand in ICC finals, the current team can reverse the trend. In their previous match in the Champions Trophy 2025 group stage, India defended a score of 249 with a match-winning show by mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took five wickets. The win would certainly be a confidence booster for the Men in Blue.

But winning over New Zealand in a final will be an all-round task. India has a powerful batting lineup of greats like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill supported by a well-rounded bowling unit that consists of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy, the spinners, might also prove instrumental in breaking New Zealand's batting lineup.

What's at Stake?

A victory in this final would not only give India a place in history but also put an end to their woes in ICC knockout matches. For New Zealand, it is another chance to prove themselves to be one of the most successful sides in contemporary cricket, yet another step in cementing their image as tournament specialists.

Hussain's final words encapsulate the spirit of what is to come for both sides: "They may well lose, but if they do, it will be because India beat them." This remark highlights the determination of the Black Caps—if India are to raise the trophy, they will have to do so the hard way.

As cricket enthusiasts prepare for this high-stakes encounter, the stage is set for a classic showdown. Will India end the jinx, or will New Zealand continue to dominate ICC finals? The answer will be revealed in Dubai on March 9.