India vs New Zealand CT Final: Good news ahead of Sunday’s final for India; star Kiwi pacer in doubt over final participation

India vs New Zealand: The internet is abuzz with media reports on the much-anticipated India vs. New Zealand final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. This is the fourth time in two years that India has qualified for the final of an ICC tournament. 

Ahead of the final clash, India is reported to play its first game against New Zealand in an ICC limited-overs tournament after more than two decades. The two teams last met in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy, where the Blackcaps, led by Stephen Fleming, emerged as champions. 

Before the India vs. New Zealand final match, India had never lost a single ODI match in Dubai. First in the 2018 Asia Cup and now in the Champions Trophy 2025, both under skipper Rohit Sharma, India has been undefeated at this venue. Even New Zealand has this record of having won only two ICC finals, both against India. 

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Amid all this anticipation, Star Kiwi pacer Matt Henry, the highest wicket-taker in this edition of the Champions Trophy for the Blackcaps, has emerged as the highlight of their stunning bowling depth, headed by skipper Santner himself. 

Henry faced trouble with his right shoulder when he took a catch diving forward to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen off the ball of skipper Santner; this was also presumed to be one of the most crucial junctures of the game. 

Matt Henry’s availability is under serious doubt as reports from ESPNcricinfo claim the player might be unavailable on the occasion of the final, which might be good news for the Men in Blue since Henry picked a 5-for the last time these two teams met in Dubai on the 2nd of March in the final group-stage encounter of the Champions Trophy. 

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Shreyas Iyer might be handed back his BCCI central contract

Star Indian middle-order batter, who was an eminent part of the Indian batting order in the 2023 ICC World Cup, showcased his brilliance with the bat. Despite all, he was snubbed out of the BCCI central contract immediately after the World Cup. 

This raised immense doubts in the heads of cricket fans; however, Iyer didn’t give up as he decided to earn his fame back by playing in the Indian domestic games. Iyer featured in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy and stunned all with his stunning performances in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the two limited-overs tournaments in India. 

Sighting his return to the Indian ODI side against England and then his promising performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy has almost forced the selectors and BCCI members to credit his achievements and hand him back his central contract. 

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