New Zealand put up a brave fight against India, who came into the match as the favorites, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the formidable Indian team. With this victory, India remained unbeaten across two consecutive ICC tournaments, now holding two out of four major ICC trophies and finishing as runners-up in the other two. Their recent streak is impressive, winning 22 of their last 23 completed ICC matches.
The toss was crucial on a pitch that challenged the batsmen. India, who hadn’t won a toss in their last 15 ODIs, finally had luck on their side. New Zealand, taking advantage, raced to 69/1 during the powerplay. However, India’s spinners stepped up on a surface not typically favorable for spin in Dubai. Bowling 38 overs in total, they conceded just 144 runs while grabbing five wickets. Michael Bracewell’s late innings effort of 53 off 40 balls helped set a competitive target for New Zealand.
India began their chase swiftly, reaching 64/0 in the powerplay. Rohit Sharma’s 76 and Shubman Gill’s 66 with a 105-run partnership laid a robust foundation. New Zealand chipped away and made scoring difficult as the pitch offered more turn in the second innings. Not to be outdone, New Zealand’s spinners bowled 35 overs, keeping India under pressure by taking five wickets and conceding 152 runs.
Despite the challenges, every Indian batsman contributed to the effort, although none stayed till the end. Following Kohli’s early exit and Rohit’s quick-scoring departure, New Zealand sensed a breakthrough. Nevertheless, India’s batting depth came through. KL Rahul with an unbeaten 32 and Ravindra Jadeja’s steady 29 saw India achieve victory with six balls and four wickets to spare.
While New Zealand’s spin options were limited, India capitalized with their suited-to-condition bowlers. Rachin Ravindra capitalized on the new ball for New Zealand, playing a fantastic innings of 37 from 29 balls. India’s spinners, however, quickly asserted control. Varun Chakravarthy got the better of Will Young, and Kuldeep Yadav bagged two pivotal wickets, including Rachin Ravindra with a beautifully executed wrong’un, followed by Kane Williamson.
From 75/3, New Zealand had Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell try to stabilize the innings. However, the constant pressure from India’s bowlers forced Latham to chance his arm against Jadeja, only to fall to an lbw. Keeping New Zealand’s options limited, Mitchell managed a laborious fifty before Mohammed Shami’s clever slower ball claimed him.
Bracewell’s late blitz gave New Zealand a total that felt competitive, though still somewhat below par.
In reply, Rohit set an aggressive tone for India against New Zealand’s fast bowlers until Glenn Phillips’ stunning one-handed catch ended Gill’s stay at the crease. Soon after, Bracewell dismissed Kohli cheaply, halting India’s momentum.
Rohit attempted to consolidate but was stumped off Ravindra after tight bowling period. Shreyas Iyer’s nervy innings and his valuable 61-run partnership with Axar Patel kept India in the hunt, although Iyer was far from settled, getting out in the 39th over.
With 67 runs needed off 68 balls, India rested easy knowing their deep lineup could handle the task. KL Rahul’s calmness at the crease ensured no late drama, while Jadeja’s handling of the nervous final moments sealed the deal for India, despite a hiccup with Hardik Pandya falling to a sharp bouncer from Kyle Jamieson.
For a tournament lacking nail-biters, this final offered all the excitement cricket fans hoped for. While India had resources better suited for the Dubai conditions, New Zealand fought bravely but couldn’t match India’s skill and depth. With this win, India firmly established itself as a modern cricket powerhouse—a testament to the team’s combination of individual brilliance and collective effort, making them a formidable force on the world stage.
