New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner emphasized the critical role of the toss ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, which is scheduled for March 9 in Dubai. The Kiwis secured their spot in the final with a dominant 50-run win over South Africa in the second semi-final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Having previously faced India in a group stage match at the same venue—where they fell short by 44 runs while chasing a target of 250—Santner acknowledged that conditions in Dubai could be a major factor in the final outcome. Speaking after the semi-final, the left-arm spinner said the team had learned valuable lessons from their earlier encounter with India. “It’s a great feeling. Today we faced a strong team, and now we’re heading to Dubai, where we’ve already played India. We’ll take some rest and then get back to it,” he said.
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He added, “We’ve had our look at them, and they’ve seen us in action. It’s all about understanding what worked and what didn’t. Our bowlers did exceptionally well, taking three early wickets. Winning the toss could also give us an edge.”
In their earlier match, New Zealand struggled against India’s spin attack—where Varun Chakravarthy delivered a maiden five-for that decimated their batting line-up, leaving the Black Caps all out for 205 in a failed chase.
With a strong history in ICC finals, having twice defeated India—in the 2000 Champions Trophy and the 2021 World Test Championship final—New Zealand is keen to build on that legacy. As both teams prepare for this high-stakes final, the spotlight will be on Dubai’s playing conditions, with factors like dew and pitch behavior likely to have a significant impact on the game.
