New Zealand's road to ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final

There's no doubt that New Zealand are one of the most consistent performers when it comes to the ICC tournament. Their ability to reach the knockout stages of major events is second to none. The Blackcaps finished as runners-up in back-to-back ICC Cricket World Cups in 2015 and 2019, however, they had to suffer heart-breaking losses on both occasions. Considering their performance in the shortest format, they reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cups in 2016 and 2022, and were runners-up in 2021, losing to Australia in the final.

Their quest to win their second ICC tournament came to an end when they defeated India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in 2021. For the unversed, New Zealand emerged as winners in the 2000 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. Heading into final of the 2025 edition against India, Mitchell Santner and Co. would be keen to another ICC Champions Trophy title to their cabinet. 

In this article, let's take you through New Zealand's journey thus far in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025: 

1. Will Young, Latham power New Zealand to a 60-run win over Pakistan

The opening match in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for New Zealand was against the hosts Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 19. Explosive opener Will Young (107 runs off 113 balls) and veteran middle-order batter Tom Latham (118 runs off 104 balls) destroyed the Pakistani bowling attack, powering New Zealand to a 320-run total in the first innings. Later, Mitchell Santner and Will O'Rourke led with the ball as the duo picked six wickets between them. Santner (3 wickets for 66) and Will O’Rourke (3 wickets for 47) starred with the ball as Pakistan were bundled out for 260 runs. The Kiwis secured a dominating victory by a margin of 60 runs in their first group-stage match.

2. New Zealand continue winning momentum with a 5-wicket win over Bangladesh

Following their first group stage encounter, the New Zealand Cricket Team reached Rawalpindi to face Bangladesh on February 24 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Excellent bowling spells from Michael Bracewell (4 wickets for 26) and Will O’Rourke (2 wickets for 48) restricted the Bangladesh Cricket Team to just 236 at the end of the first innings. 

Playing his first match in the ICC Champions Trophy, Rachin Ravindra lit the stadium with a rolicking knock of 112 runs off 105 balls in the second innings. Tom Latham, once again, made a significant contribution of 55 runs from 76 balls. Courtesy of those two knocks, New Zealand chased down the total in 46.1 overs with five wickets in hand. 

3. New Zealand fail to go past India's challenge in Dubai  

After two wins in a row, New Zealand was set to face one of the toughest sides in the international circuit, Team India. Both teams won their first two matches and qualified for the semi-finals, but this fixture was important to determine their opponent in the next round. The Indian Cricket Team had to bat first and managed to score a total of 249 runs on the challenging wicket of the Dubai International Stadium. Matt Henry starred with a five-wicket haul (5 wickets for 42), while the rest of the bowlers claimed one wicket apiece. In the second innings, former captain Kane Williamson stood as a lone warrior (81 runs off 120 balls) as all of the batters fell into the spinning trap of India's spin attack. India bundled out New Zealand for 205. 

4. New Zealand bounce back to beat South Africa by 50 runs in the semi-finals 

In the semi-finals, the Black Caps were against South Africa, who defeated Afghanistan and England in the group stage. The fixture was scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5. Batters Rachin Ravindra (108 runs off 101 balls), Kane Williamson (102 runs off 94 balls), Daryll Mitchell (49 runs off 37 balls), and Glenn Phillips (49 runs off 27 balls) dominated the South African bowling attack on the flat tracks of Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium. The Proteas tried to inspire a comeback into the game but fell short by 50 runs after an important bowling spell by Mitchell Santner (3 wickets for 43 runs).

The Kiwis are set to face the Indian Cricket Team in the finals of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on February 19. The Indian side has reached their fifth overall and third consecutive Champions Trophy final, whereas the New Zealand side will play their third in the history.