NEW DELHI: Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand in Dubai, former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated clash, calling it a “nail-biter.”
India and New Zealand will face off in the tournament final on March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium.
India remain unbeaten so far, while the Kiwis have delivered strong performances with both bat and ball under Mitchell Santner’s captaincy.
The showdown sets the stage for an epic rematch of the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand emerged victorious. The Men in Blue will be eager to settle past scores, having suffered heartbreak against the Blackcaps in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
“India is performing very well under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. The balance of our team is very good… We cannot take New Zealand lightly because their performance is also outstanding. The final match will be nail-biting…” Laxi Ratan Shukla said while speaking to ANI.
Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav’s former coach, Kapil Dev Pandey, praised Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami for their performances in the ongoing marquee tournament.
“This is a very important match for the players and also for the countrymen. Our team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is performing very well. Virat Kohli is in good form… Shreyas Iyer is also playing very well. The partnership should be nice. If we bat first, our runs on the scoreboard should be more than 300. If we ball first, we must stop the opponent at 240-260… Mohammad Shami is the best baller we have,” Kapil Dev Pandey said.
Batting at number four for India, Iyer has scored 1,773 runs in 40 innings at an impressive average of 52.14, including four centuries and 12 half-centuries, with a highest score of 128*. In seven ODIs this year, he has accumulated 376 runs at an average of 53.71 and a strike rate of 96.16, registering four fifties with a top score of 79.
Meanwhile, Shami played a crucial role in India’s victory, returning figures of 3/48 in 10 overs. His stellar performances have propelled him to the second spot among the tournament’s highest wicket-takers, having claimed eight wickets in four matches at an average of 19.88.
