New Zealand vs India: The State of Play
Two teams in excellent form meet on Sunday when New Zealand and India collide in their final Group A matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
India beat Bangladesh by six wickets in their opener and proceeded to win by the same margin against Pakistan in Dubai last Sunday.
New Zealand saw off Pakistan by 60 runs before recording a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday.
“It could be a contest of spin,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate says, observing one of the strengths these sides share.
All eyes 👀 on Match Day ⌛️#TeamIndia | #NZvIND | #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/xfw5beShan
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2025
“Coming into the competition, we weren’t expecting such an over-reliance on spin. But the guys have bowled nicely and the pitch has helped a little bit, so I’m sure it’s going to be the same for the next game.”
Glenn Phillips believes the variety of pitches in Pakistan has prepared New Zealand well to play in Dubai, where the all-rounder expects the surface to be “different again”.
“We’ve had a lot of different situations,” reflected Phillips. “We’ve had balls that have spun, we’ve had surfaces that have been flat and fast, and boundaries that are small.
“This ground presents us with a different challenge of being potentially a little bit slower, more void of grass and maybe having slightly slower outfields. We pride ourselves on trying to be as adaptable as possible.”
🗣️ “It’s all about giving to each other and a cause that’s bigger than our own.”
Glenn Phillips on the team’s mindset ahead of the business end of the Champions Trophy 🏏 #ChampionsTrophy #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/gb2YeHCqmZ
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 1, 2025
New Zealand vs India team news
Changes could be on the way with both teams through to the semi-finals, with India potentially giving Rishabh Pant a start in place of KL Rahul, among the big names who could be rested.
Ten Doeschate played down an injury concern for captain Rohit Sharma against Pakistan, saying: “He’s all right. It’s an injury he’s had before, so he knows how to manage it really well.”
Daryl Mitchell is likely to return for New Zealand after missing their encounter with Bangladesh through illness, and Phillips says top spot would give them a “great deal of confidence”.
“In a tournament like this, we always go out to win every game possible,” he added. Momentum is a strange thing – in cricket, especially.”
Final prep under lights ahead of Game 3 against India 🏏 #ChampionsTrophy #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/6YUGSMIvQN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 1, 2025
India are more likely to “share out” the bowling to “get the balance right” rather than make wholesale changes, according to Ten Doeschate. “It’s important that we keep that momentum going and top the group,” he said.
India icon Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th One-Day International, making the 36-year-old the 22nd player and seventh from India to do so.
“That’s a lot of ODI games and a lot of international games,” said Rahul. “Words fall short to express how good a player and what a great servant of Indian cricket he’s been.”
New Zealand vs India expected line-ups
New Zealand: Conway, Ravindra, Williamson, Mitchell, Latham (wk), Phillips, Bracewell, Santner (c), Jamieson, Henry, O’Rourke
India: Sharma (c), Gill, Kohli, Iyer, Pant (wk), Pandya, Jadeja, Sundar, Rana, Yadav, Shami
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2025
How to watch New Zealand vs India: TV channel, live stream
The ICC Champions Trophy can be watched in the UK on Sky Sports. Sunday’s coverage starts on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket at 0830.
In India, it is being shown on the JioStar network with JioHotstar providing live streaming. On television, in addition to the English feed, coverage will also be available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across Star Sports and Sports18 channels.
New Zealand vs India prediction
India’s status as warm odds-on favourites is perhaps a little short given the unpredictability of the teams and the reduced stakes for each team, but expect the side with 60 wins from their 118 matches against New Zealand – their opponents have 50 victories – to mark Kohli’s 300th game in style.
This is a storied fixture, including a 70-run win for India in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals, and the likes of New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell and Will O’Rourke and India’s Mohammad Shami and Harshit Rana could shine in attack, with that quartet taking a combined 19 wickets so far.
New Zealand start the day above India on net run rate, with the group winners facing Australia and the second-placed team taking on South Africa.
