History Beckons: Rohit Sharma Eyes Tendulkar’s Record as India Takes on New Zealand
Dubai (The Uttam Hindu): An exciting clash between India and New Zealand is set to take place on Sunday in the Champions Trophy 2025. Both teams have already secured their spots in the semifinals, but the winner of this match will top Group A, which could influence their semifinal opponent. The toss is expected to play a crucial role in the game.
There is uncertainty over the participation of Indian captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Mohammed Shami, as team management may choose to rest them. It remains to be seen whether India sticks to its winning combination or makes changes in the playing XI against a strong New Zealand side.
New Zealand boasts a solid spin attack and a strong batting lineup, making the contest challenging for India. Even though both teams have qualified for the semifinals, this match remains important as it could impact the group standings and determine the semifinal matchups.
Head-to-head records show that India and New Zealand have faced each other 118 times in ODIs, with India winning 60 matches and New Zealand securing 50 victories. Seven matches ended with no result, while one ended in a tie. In Champions Trophy history, these two teams have met only once before, with New Zealand emerging victorious.
Historically, India has held an edge over New Zealand in ODIs. In ICC ODI World Cups, the teams have played 11 matches, with both sides winning five games each, while one match had no result. Today's match is special for Rohit Sharma, as he has a chance to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Tendulkar scored 2,454 runs in 73 ODIs as captain, whereas Rohit has already amassed 2,387 runs in just 53 matches. With just 68 more runs, Rohit could surpass Tendulkar’s tally. So far, Rohit has registered five centuries and 16 half-centuries in this period.
Dubai’s pitch is generally batting-friendly, but in Champions Trophy 2025, both batters and bowlers have found some balance. The weather is expected to be clear and sunny, with no chance of rain. Humidity levels will be moderate, and wind speeds could be high. The temperature will hover around 24°C during the day, dropping to 19°C by evening, making it ideal for a competitive match.
The last time India and New Zealand met in a Champions Trophy match was 25 years ago in 2000, during the final in Nairobi, Kenya. India, led by Sourav Ganguly, scored 264 runs, thanks to his 117-run knock. However, Chris Cairns guided New Zealand to victory with an unbeaten 102, sealing a six-wicket win in 49.4 overs.
Squads for India vs. New Zealand
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy
