India is set to face New Zealand in their final group-stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Having already secured dominant wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan, India is likely to maintain their strong combination. However, reports suggest potential changes in the playing XI.
- India has been in top form, winning both group-stage matches.
- Reports suggest Mohammed Shami may be rested due to injury concerns.
- Rohit Sharma is expected to play despite earlier fitness worries.
- Washington Sundar might replace Ravindra Jadeja to counter NZ’s left-handers.
- Arshdeep Singh could come in for Shami.
Should India Change Their Playing XI Against New Zealand?
India has been dominant in the tournament, and ideally, no major changes are needed. However, Mohammed Shami, who walked off with right leg discomfort, might be rested. Reports indicate that Arshdeep Singh could replace him to maintain the bowling balance.
Is Rohit Sharma Fit to Play Against New Zealand?
Concerns about Rohit Sharma’s hamstring injury surfaced before this crucial game. However, he has resumed practice and is likely to lead the team. His record against New Zealand is impressive, with 982 runs in 27 ODIs at an average of 37.77 and a strike rate of 85.39. His performance in the powerplay could be crucial.
Will India Bring in Washington Sundar to Counter NZ’s Left-Handers?
New Zealand’s batting lineup features five left-handers in their top eight, including Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner.
Performance of NZ Left-Handers in Champions Trophy 2025
| Batter | Runs | Average/SR |
|---|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | 112 | 112/106.66 |
| Tom Latham | 173 | 173/96.11 |
India already has two left-arm spinners, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. However, stats show that NZ left-handers perform better against right-arm off-break bowlers than against left-arm orthodox spinners:
NZ LHBs Performance vs Different Bowling Types in ODIs
| Bowling Type | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|
| vs Right-Arm Off-Break (RAOB) | 1681 | 50.9 |
| vs Slow Left-Arm Orthodox (SLAO) | 574 | 27.3 |
Although Washington Sundar could be a tactical inclusion, replacing Jadeja may not yield significant benefits given India’s current balance.
India’s Probable Playing XI vs New Zealand
- Shubman Gill
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja / Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
India’s squad looks settled, and apart from Shami’s replacement with Arshdeep, no major changes are expected. With a semifinal spot already secured, India will look to continue their winning momentum against a strong New Zealand side.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Matches
Pakistan vs New Zealand - 1st Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs India - 2nd Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs South Africa - 3rd Match, Group B | Australia vs England - 4th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs India - 5th Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs New Zealand - 6th Match, Group A | Australia vs South Africa - 7th Match, Group B | Afghanistan vs England - 8th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs Bangladesh - 9th Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs Australia - 10th Match, Group B | England vs South Africa - 11th Match, Group B | New Zealand vs India - 12th Match, Group A | TBA vs TBA, 1st Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, 2nd Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, Final |
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Teams
PAKISTAN | NEW ZEALAND | BANGLADESH | INDIA | AFGHANISTAN | SOUTH AFRICA | AUSTRALIA | ENGLAND
