India and New Zealand will be facing each other for the first time in an ICC World Cup final for the first time across any format. The duo have faced off twice in the knockouts, mostly in the ODI semifinal, once being the heartbreaking 2019 ODI World Cup at Old Trafford, and later in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai. But they have never faced each other in a final match.

 

However, considering the other ICC trophies, this is the fourth time India will play against New Zealand in a final match. In the previous three matches, India managed to win just once. The tournaments they faced each other in were

 

2000 Champions Trophy Final (Knockout Trophy): New Zealand defeated India by 4 wickets.

2021 World Test Championship Final: New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets.

2025 Champions Trophy Final: India defeated New Zealand to claim the title.

 

1 | Champions Trophy 2002:

 

The first time the two nations played a final was in 2000 in the ICC Knockout Trophy in Nairobi. Sourav Ganguly was leading India against Stephen Fleming's New Zealand. After winning the toss, Fleming opted to field first.

 

India set a competitive target of 264, thanks to Ganguly’s brilliant 117 and a quick 69 from Sachin Tendulkar. In response, New Zealand were struggling at 132/5 during the chase of 265.

 

However, Chris Cairns produced a match-winning 102, while Chris Harris supported him well as the pair guided New Zealand to victory with two balls remaining.

 

2. ICC Test Championship 2021

 

It was a rain-soaked inaugural ICC Championship final between the two in Southampton. Kane Williamson's New Zealand sent Virat Kohli's India to bat first. 

 

Kyle Jamieson, the Kiwi pacer, had a terrific outing in that match, rattling down the Indian batting order, taking a fifer in the first innings and then 2 more in the second. India was bowled out for 217 runs with captain Virat Kohli scoring 44 and vice captain Ajinkya Rahane adding 49 runs on the board.

 

New Zealand managed 249 runs later with a half century from Devon Conway (54), and Mohammed Shami took a four-fer, followed by Ishant Sharma with three for 48. In the second innings, Rishabh Pant added 41 runs before his innings ended with a rash shot to Trent Boult. Boult took three, apart from Tim Southee, who took four wickets. The Kiwis chased down the target of 135 runs with a 96-run partnership from Williamson (52*) and Ross Taylor (47*) with 8 wickets in hand. Notably, that was also the final match of BJ Watling. 

 

3 | 2025 Champions Trophy Final

 

India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Chasing 252, India lost three quick wickets despite Rohit Sharma’s 76. Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) steadied the innings before KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 guided India home, sealing their third Champions Trophy title.