Sports

ICC Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know about the India-New Zealand clash in Dubai

Published

11 months ago

March 8, 2025

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After 18 days of edge-of-the-seat cricket, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has boiled down to this—India vs New Zealand, a winner-takes-all final under the lights in Dubai.

The two cricketing powerhouses will battle for ODI glory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this Sunday (1 pm local, 09:00 GMT) in a clash that promises fireworks, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments.

Why Dubai? The Drama Behind the Venue Choice

This year’s tournament has already delivered drama off the field, with a standoff between India and Pakistan determining the venue.

The BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan, forcing the ICC into a last-minute compromise—India’s games (including the final) would be played in neutral Dubai while other matches were split between Pakistan and the UAE.

India’s Road to the Final: Unstoppable Force?

India has steamrolled its way through the tournament, winning every game so far. Here’s how they booked their spot in the final:
Beat Bangladesh (6 wickets) – Gill’s ton stole the show
Beat Pakistan (6 wickets) – A dominant all-round performance
Beat New Zealand (44 runs) – A statement win in the group stage
Beat Australia (4 wickets) – Held their nerve in a tense semi-final
New Zealand’s Route: Resilient as Ever
The Kiwis have had a rock-solid campaign, bouncing back from a loss against India to power into the final:
Beat Pakistan (60 runs) – A strong start in Karachi
Beat Bangladesh (5 wickets) – Showed their clinical edge
Lost to India (44 runs) – A rare blip, but lessons learned
Beat South Africa (50 runs) – Dominated the semi-final

Players to Watch: Who Can Be the Game-Changer?

Virat Kohli (India) – The king of ODI cricket is back in top form, with six centuries against New Zealand in his career. Big players shine in big matches—expect a show.
Shubman Gill (India) – The No.1-ranked ODI batter, Gill kicked off the tournament with a ton and will be key at the top of the order.
Varun Chakravarthy (India) – The mystery spinner rattled New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Can he do it again in the final?
Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – NZ’s batting talisman, Williamson, always steps up in ICC events. His leadership and cool head will be crucial.
Matt Henry (New Zealand) – The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Henry was India’s nightmare in the group stage. His fitness will be a game-time decision.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) – Captain. Spinner. All-rounder. Santner will be a huge factor with his left-arm spin on a sluggish Dubai track.

Key Battles That Could Decide the Final

Gill vs Henry – NZ’s top bowler got Gill out early last time. Can he do it again and give the Blackcaps the perfect start?
Kohli vs Santner – Kohli loves a big game, but left-arm spin has troubled him before. Can Santner get the biggest wicket of them all?
Williamson vs Shami – Two big-game performers. If Shami can remove Williamson early, India will be in the driver’s seat.
Ravindra vs Pandya – The rising Kiwi star takes on India’s all-rounder in a duel that could swing momentum either way.

The Pitch and Weather: What to Expect in Dubai

The Dubai surface has been slow and spin-friendly, favouring bowlers with variations. A new pitch will be used for the final, but expect another low-scoring contest where patience at the crease will be key.

As for the weather—hot, dry, and no rain in sight. Temperatures will hit 34°C at the start, cooling down to 28°C by the evening.

The Prize Money: What’s on the Line?

Winners: Dh8.23 million ($2.24 million)
Runners-up: Dh4.11 million ($1.12 million)
Total prize pool: Dh24.34 million ($6.9 million)

India vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head Stats

Matches Played: 119
India Wins: 61
New Zealand Wins: 50
No Results: 7
Tied Matches: 1

India has won their last six ODIs against New Zealand, but history means nothing in a final.

Team News: Will There Be Any Changes?

India

India are unlikely to change their winning XI, with Varun Chakravarthy keeping his place after his match-winning spells. Harshit Rana remains on the bench.

The Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand

All eyes are on Matt Henry’s injury. If he is fit, NZ will field an unchanged XI. If not, Ben Sears or Nathan Smith could step in.

The Squad: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (WK), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (WK), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

How and where to watch: Streaming

Fans in more than 80 territories can watch via ICC.tv and free audio of all 15 matches is available via the ICC match centre globally. The fans can also check the live ball-by-ball commentary on icc-cricket.com.

In India, the JioStar network will broadcast the finals. On TV, in addition to the English feed, the network will provide coverage in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across Star Sports and Sports18 channels.

In Pakistan, fans will be able to catch the live action via linear partners PTV and Ten Sports and digitally through the Myco and Tamasha apps.

UAE and the entire MENA region will have the game broadcasted via CricLife MAX and CricLife MAX2, with streaming available on STARZPLAY.

UK cricket fans can enjoy the action on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action and digitally via the SkyGO, NOW, and Sky Sports App.

On Radio

UK: BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

India: All India Radio

Pakistan: HUM 106.2FM

UAE: Talk 100.3FM and Big 106.2

Bangladesh: Radio Shadhin 92.4 and Radio Bhumi 92.8

Sri Lanka: Lakhanda Radio

On TV:

Broadcast Details (TV and Digital):
India: JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar, Television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels)
Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app
UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY
UK: Live broadcasting on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, Digital coverage via SkyGO, NOW and Sky Sports App
USA and Canada: WillowTV, streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)
Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean on TV, streaming via ESPN Play Caribbean app
Australia: PrimeVideo (coverage also available in Hindi)
New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, digital coverage via Now and SkyGo app.
South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App
Bangladesh: Nagorik TV and T Sports for linear broadcast, digital via Toffee app
Afghanistan: ATN
Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on Linear), Digital via Sirasa

Tickets: Can You Still Get In?

Official ICC tickets – Sold out
Resale platforms – Limited tickets available but at sky-high prices

The stage is set. The players are ready. The cricket world is watching. Will India extend their dominance, or will New Zealand pull off an upset for the ages? All eyes will be on Dubai on Sunday, March 9, for the ultimate battle for the prestigious trophy.

(Source: ICC, agencies)

Sports

T20 World Cup 2026: STARTRADER named official partner of UAE national cricket team

Published

4 days ago

January 16, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The UAE Men’s National Cricket Team is heading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a major boost, as STARTRADER has been announced as its Official Partner for the global tournament.

The renewed partnership means STARTRADER’s branding will feature on the official UAE team jerseys throughout the World Cup, which kicks off on February 7, 2026, across India and Sri Lanka.

The agreement was signed in Dubai on Wednesday, January 14, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, including Emirates Cricket Board COO Subhan Ahmad, ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas, STARTRADER CEO Peter Karsten, and UAE Men’s Captain Muhammad Waseem.

STARTRADER CEO Peter Karsten said the collaboration builds on the company’s earlier sponsorship of the UAE team during the Asia Cup, but with an even stronger commitment this time around.

“We know that cricket has a way of reminding us what commitment, trust and growth can achieve,” Karsten said.

“Continuing this partnership reflects our belief in long-term support for communities and in the human spirit driving both the game and the markets.”

He added that the partnership mirrors STARTRADER’s core values, where trust in strategy and teamwork plays a vital role in achieving sustainable growth, whether on the pitch or in global markets.

STARTRADER is regulated by five international authorities, including the SCA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA and FSC, reinforcing its focus on transparency, trust and long-term growth for its clients.

Emirates Cricket Board COO Subhan Ahmad welcomed the renewed partnership, describing it as a relationship that goes beyond sport.

“We are delighted to welcome STARTRADER as our Official Partner for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” he said.

“This partnership reflects shared values of discipline, focus and resilience, and aligns perfectly with our vision as the UAE team continues to perform on the world stage.”

Sports

Dubai named permanent opening city for new global beach volleyball series

Published

5 days ago

January 15, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai is about to serve up something big on the global sports stage. The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) has announced Dubai as the permanent opening destination of its brand-new international championship, the Beach World Series, which will launch for the first time in November 2026.

The announcement was made during the World Sports Summit, following the signing of a five-year strategic partnership between the Dubai Sports Council and FIVB, a move that further cements Dubai’s reputation as a leading host of major global sporting events.

A new model for global sport

Under the agreement, Dubai will become the first city in the world to host a permanent opening stop of the Beach World Series, setting a new benchmark for global championships that combine elite competition with entertainment, culture, and fan engagement.

The series introduces an innovative format that blends high-level beach volleyball with music, interactive experiences, and a vibrant beach atmosphere, offering something beyond traditional sporting events.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of senior officials from the Dubai Sports Council, with signatures from Guido Betti, Chief Business Officer of Volleyball World, and Eisa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at the Dubai Sports Council.

Ten global destinations

The Beach World Series will span 10 international destinations, each bringing its own identity and local flavour to the competition. Dubai’s role as the opening city positions it at the heart of this global journey, showcasing beach volleyball as both an elite sport and a shared cultural experience.

Additional host cities are expected to be announced in the coming months as the Beach World Series expands across globally recognised sports and entertainment hubs.

Sports

Trophies, belts and cash prizes: Inside the ILT20 Season 4 grand finale

Published

2 weeks ago

January 6, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Fireworks, flair and firsts, DP World ILT20 Season 4 delivered a finale to remember as the Desert Vipers lifted their maiden title, crushing MI Emirates by 46 runs at a packed Dubai International Stadium.

While the trophy glittered, the spotlight also shone brightly on the league’s iconic signature belts, with star performances keeping fans guessing right up to the final ball.

Leading the charge was Desert Vipers captain Sam Curran, who produced a season for the ages, sweeping both the Red Belt (Most Valuable Player) and the Green Belt (Best Batter). Calm under pressure and devastating with the bat, Curran’s unbeaten 74 in the final sealed the Vipers’ historic triumph and underlined his status as the league’s standout performer.

The Vipers walked away not just with silverware but a $700,000 winners’ purse and the Black Belt, while runners-up MI Emirates earned $300,000 for another strong campaign.

Red Belt: Sam Curran (Desert Vipers)

Curran piled up 397 runs, while snapping seven wickets, taking 10 catches and finishing with a tournament-high 691 points. It was dominance, delivered with leadership.

Green Belt: Sam Curran (Desert Vipers)

With 397 runs at a strike rate of 135, Curran topped the batting charts, smashing 17 sixes and proving clutch when it mattered most.

White Belt: Waqar Salamkheil (Dubai Capitals)

Spin wizard Waqar Salamkheil claimed the bowling honours with 18 wickets at an economy of 7.66, earning his second White Belt in ILT20 history.

Blue Belt: Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates)

UAE stalwart Muhammad Waseem continued his incredible run, securing the Blue Belt for a fourth straight season after scoring 370 runs at a strike rate of 132.

With unforgettable moments, top performances, and a champion crowned, DP World ILT20 Season 4 once again proved why it’s one of the most exciting T20 leagues in the world of cricket.