The India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final is surely going to be one of the most important, or rather the most important, clashes. And why not? After all, it’s the final, and one mistake can shatter the dream of clinching the Champions Trophy; all the hard work can go in vain for both India and New Zealand.
This is clearly a crucial opportunity for both sides. Speaking about India and New Zealand, there’s no denying that whenever these two teams meet, it turns into a thrilling encounter. Neither side usually gets a clear upper hand, making it a tight contest.
It’s fair to say that New Zealand has shown dominance over India in ICC tournaments. However, things have changed since 2023. Looking back at the 2023 ODI World Cup group stage, the Men in Blue finally managed to defeat the New Zealand, followed by another win in the semi-final. Even in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, India once again triumphed over the Black Caps in the group stage.
Now, both teams are set for the big final. So, who holds the better record in Champions Trophy knockout games? Let’s take a look at that first, along with India’s performance in crucial matches against New Zealand.
India Champions Trophy Knockout wins
- 2000:
Quarter-final vs Australia: Won by 20 runs. - Semi-final vs South Africa: Won by 95 runs.
- 2002:
- Semi-final vs South Africa: Won by 10 runs.
- 2013:
- Semi-final vs Sri Lanka: Won by 8 wickets.
- Final vs England: Won by 5 runs.
- 2017:
- Semi-final vs Bangladesh: Won by 9 wickets.
- 2025:
- Semi-final vs Australia: Won by 4 wickets.
New Zealand’s Champions Trophy knockout wins
- 2000:
- Semi-final vs Pakistan: Won by 4 wickets.
- Final vs India: Won by 4 wickets.
- 2002:
- No knockout wins in this year.
- 2013:
- No knockout wins in this year.
- 2017:
- No knockout wins in this year.
- 2025:
- Semi-final vs South Africa: Won by 50 runs.
India vs New Zealand Head To Head In ICC Knockout Matches
| Tournament | Year | Result |
| Champions Trophy Final | 2000 | New Zealand Won by 4 wickets |
| ODI World Cup Semi-final | 2019 | New Zealand won by 18 runs |
| World Test Championship Final | 2021 | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| ODI World Cup Semi-final | 2023 | India won by 70 runs |
So, no question that New Zealand has historically enjoyed success against India in several high-stakes ICC encounters. In the 2000 Champions Trophy final, the Black Caps claimed a memorable victory by four wickets. Interestingly, it was their last success in an ICC white-ball tournament. This dominance continued in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final as well, where New Zealand came out on top against India by 18 runs.
Now, looking at red-ball cricket, in the 2021 World Test Championship final, they secured an eight-wicket win. But as mentioned earlier, India finally turned the tide in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, defeating New Zealand convincingly by 70 runs and breaking the jinx.
