India and New Zealand are set to face each other in the finals of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. The match will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The live action will begin at 2:30PM IST (09:00 GMT).

The pitch for final clash in Dubai International Stadium's will be the same surface that was used in the leage match between India and Pakistan. Spinners are expected to get more assistance from the pitch because of its slow and sluggish nature.

India vs New Zealand - Recent Form

India showed their dominance in this tournament having won all four matches. The were the top team from Group A. They topped Group A and secured a victory over New Zealand, their final opponents, before smoothly advancing to the knockout stage. The Men in Blue are on high spirit with a convincing victory over mighty Australia in the semifinals. With a well-rounded squad boasting top-class batsmen, explosive finishers, formidable opening bowlers, and a decent spin attack, India will be a formidable challenge for any team with a prefect blend of experience and youths.

New Zealand also had a decent journey coming into the final, with their only defeat coming against India. Apart from that loss, New Zealand have played well as a team, including a comprehensive victory against South Africa in the semifinals. Having already faced India, the Black Caps might have revisited what went wrong for them in the group stage match against India. It would be a perfect revenge for them if they can upset Rohit Sharma and team in the finals.

It is obvious that the playing condtions will be in favor of spinners and slower bowlers. Indian team is very good at pulling game in the middle overs with their spin attack consisting of Kuldeep, Varun and Jadeja. The bowling of Hardik Pandya can also be very vital as he is always known for giving crucial breakthroughs every now and then.

India vs New Zealand - Journey to the Finals

India has playing very good cricket in recent matches. They defeated Bangladesh by 6 wickets followed by a 6 wicket victory over Pakistan. India has already defeated Kiwis in this tournament. Most importantly, India have found different match winners in every match. Shubman Gill started with a match winning knock against Bangladesh while Virat Kohli was the man against Pakistan. Varun picked up 5 wickets against New Zealand and he will be a threat in the finals too. Shreyas Iyer has looked good too.

India's route to the final included a series of impressive victories. They started with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in Dubai, followed by another six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the same city. India then secured a dominant 44-run win over New Zealand, also in Dubai, before completing their campaign with a four-wicket win against Australia, again in Dubai.

On the other hand, New Zealand's journey to the final saw them secure a 60-run win over Pakistan in Karachi. They followed it with a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Despite suffering a 44-run loss to India in Dubai, they bounced back with a 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore, securing their place in the final.

Probable XI for India

Rohit Sharma (C)
Shubhman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Axar Patel
Ravindra Jadeja
Hardik Pandya
Varun Chakravarty
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammed Shami

Probable XI for New Zealand

Mitchell Santner (C) 
Will Young
Rachin Ravindra
Kane Williamson
Tom Latham
Daryl Mitchell
Glenn Phillips
Michael Bracewell
Kyle Jamieson
William ORourke
Matt Henry

India vs New Zealand - Who has the upperhand ?

Both teams have splendid firepower in their batting lineup, with openers capable of delivering aggressive starts. Guys like Virat Kohli or Kane Williamson can steady the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking. India might have a slight upper hand in terms of middle and lower middle order with the depth and capability of players like Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. Their batting depth ensures they can adapt to any match scenario, making them formidable opponents.

When it comes to bowling, I feel that New Zealand holds a slight advantage. Their tall fast bowlers can extract movement and assistance from the pitch, making life difficult for batters, especially on responsive surfaces. While their spin attack may not be world-class, it remains a solid unit, anchored by the experienced Mitchell Santner, whose ability to control the game adds significant value.

India, however, boasts a highly versatile spin department. With two left-arm orthodox spinners, a left-arm wrist-spinner, and a right-arm mystery spinner who remains a puzzle for batters, their variety allows them to dominate the middle overs. This mix of attacking and defensive options makes India’s spin unit a key strength, giving them an edge in conditions favoring turn.

The presence of allrounders like Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian side is very crucial for them for the balance of the team. India are able to play with Jadeja at number 8 which shows the depth in their batting lineup.

India vs New Zealand - Match Prediction

Looking at the current form and team balance, I personally feel India have more chances of lifting the title. Having said that, if you seek any team from this tournament who can stop India it has to be New Zealand. I am sure this is not going to be a one-sided encounter at all. We can expect a thrilling finish to this tournament with two of the best teams so far will lock horns against each other in the final.