Champions Trophy final: IND vs NZ pitch report, Dubai Stadium key stats

The pitch for the Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand will not be a completely fresh one, unlike the pitches used for India's previous four matches in the tournament.

 The grand finale of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where conditions, strategy, and history are already shaping the contest. With New Zealand winning the toss and opting to bat first, the match is set to be a test of skill, patience, and adaptability on a bone-dry, used surface that is expected to deteriorate as the game progresses.  ALSO READ: IND vs NZ FINAL FULL SCORECARD &  LIVE SCORE | IND vs NZ FINAL LIVE STREAMING   

  Dubai pitch report: India vs New Zealand final today

 

The Dubai surface, already used in the tournament, is expected to play slower as the match progresses, offering turn for spinners and making stroke-making increasingly difficult.

 

 

Veteran cricketers Rameez Raja and Aaron Finch analyzed the pitch ahead of the game, describing it as bone-dry and ideal for batting first.

 

"This is a surface where you win the toss and bat first. It will get harder and harder to bat as the game goes on. Pace-off deliveries will be the key for bowlers, and we expect some turn as well," Finch remarked.

 

With boundary dimensions measuring 66 meters over point and square leg, and 76 meters straight down the ground, the pitch will demand precise shot-making rather than brute power.

 

Toss luck deserts Rohit yet again 

For India’s captain Rohit Sharma, the toss streak has become an almost unbelievable anomaly. This marks his 12th consecutive toss loss in One Day Internationals (ODIs)—tying him with West Indies legend Brian Lara (1998-99) for the longest losing streak by a captain. Even more remarkably, India as a team have now lost 15 consecutive ODI tosses, a statistic that defies probability.

 

However, Rohit remains unfazed, refusing to let the uncontrollable dictate India’s approach.

 

"We’ve played enough games here, batted first and bowled first, and it hasn’t changed much. At the end of the day, it’s about how well you play," he stated with confidence ahead of the final.

 

 

Spin battle on the horizon

 

With the surface expected to assist slow bowlers, both teams will be relying heavily on their spin attack. India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakaravarthy will look to exploit the conditions, while New Zealand’s spin-heavy lineup, including Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra, is equally poised to thrive.

 

Final battle begins

With the toss done and the teams set, the equation is clear—New Zealand will aim to post a formidable total before the pitch slows down, while India will be hoping to restrict them and exploit the conditions when their turn comes to bat.

 

The Champions Trophy final has begun, and in the desert heat of Dubai, one team will leave with glory, the other with heartbreak. The world watches as the last battle unfolds.

 

 

Weather forecast: Warm and sunny in Dubai

 

Players can look forward to sunny skies and warm temperatures, reaching a high of 29 degrees Celsius. With no weather disruptions expected, the focus will be on how teams adjust their strategies to the conditions.

 

India vs New Zealand final: What to do after winning the toss?

 

Out of 62 games played at Dubai International Stadium, teams winning the toss have emerged victorious just 29 times. 

 

Dubai International Stadium Stats

 

Matches played: 62

Matches won batting 1st: 23

Matches won bowling 1st: 37

Average 1st innings score: 219

Average 2nd innings score: 193 

Highest team totals in Dubai cricket stadium (ODIs)
Team	Score	Opposition	Date
England	355/5	Pakistan	20/11/15
Australia	327/7	Pakistan	31/03/19
South Africa	317/5	Pakistan	08/11/10
Pakistan	307/7	Australia	31/03/19
Pakistan	292/6	Sri Lanka	13/10/17
Sri Lanka	287/8	Pakistan	20/12/13
Scotland	287/5	P.N.G.	13/04/22
India	285/7	Hong Kong	18/09/18
Pakistan	284/4	Sri Lanka	20/12/13
Scotland	284/3	P.N.G.	09/04/22
Pakistan	279/8	New Zealand	11/11/18
Australia	277/7	Pakistan	29/03/19
Oman	277/8	P.N.G.	16/04/22