Champions Trophy Final: ‘Process-driven’ New Zealand pose serious threat to India’s pedigree | Cricket News

India captain Rohit Sharma and New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner (Agency Photo)

In their two conferences within the last of an International Cricket Council (ICC) event, New Zealand obtained the higher of India; however the present model of white-ball cricket India have been enjoying beneath Rohit Sharma’s captaincy is at a unique degree. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra warns that the “process-driven” Kiwis all the time handle to current a stiff problem, which might occur within the Champions Trophy last as properly on Sunday in Dubai.
In 2000 and 2021, New Zealand defeated India within the finals of the Champions Trophy (then often known as ICC KnockOut) and World Test Championship, respectively. With that monitor file, the Kiwis will fancy their possibilities of a hat-trick; however the Indian staff might be eager to win the fourth ICC title for his or her stalwarts Rohit and Virat Kohli.
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“Rohit and Kohli are vying for their fourth ICC title. I am trying to remind myself that we don’t know when the next time (India in an ICC tournament final) will come,” stated Chopra on a Star Sports present.
Many consider that the ultimate may very well be the swansong for the 2 icons, after the duo introduced their retirement from T20Is following the T20 World Cup triumph final yr. But there’ve been no such feelers from the Indian camp.

Chopra stated India’s prowess exhibits of their current file in ICC tournaments.
“This is the third (ICC tournament final) for India in two years after 2023 (ODI World Cup), 2024 (T20 World Cup) and now 2025 (Champions Trophy). So India have played three finals in the last 18 months,” Chopra recalled.
Besides, India additionally certified for the ultimate within the first two editions of the World Test Championship and missed out on one other last narrowly within the 2023-25 cycle of the red-ball event.

The former batter added that India have each motive to be cautious of the threat Kiwis pose.
“The opponents India face are very process-driven (in) how they tackle problems posed to them…They have their roles well defined. It may not appear as a battle of equals against India’s pedigree and experience, but New Zealand always punch above their weight,” he concluded.