India is set to face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The two have squared off only twice in the Champions Trophy, with the latest encounter coming in the group stage last week.
The other time these two sides met was in the final of the ICC Knockout in 2000, at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi, Kenya.
New Zealand won the toss and inserted India. Openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly got India off to a flying start, scoring 37 runs in the first four overs. Both mixed caution with aggression and struck a 100-run partnership. The stand was broken in the 27th over at 141, when Tendulkar was run out by Nathan Astle.
FILE PHOTO: Sourav Ganguly plays a lofted shot against New Zealand in the final of the 2000 Knockout Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
V V KRISHNAN
FILE PHOTO: Sourav Ganguly plays a lofted shot against New Zealand in the final of the 2000 Knockout Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
V V KRISHNAN
Ganguly continued unperturbed and brought up his second century of the tournament. But just when India was looking to put a formidable total on the board, New Zealand pegged India back with crucial breakthroughs. India lost five wickets for 54 runs and ended up scoring only 264 despite the solid foundation.
Chasing 265, New Zealand would have hoped for a better start than the 37 for two it found itself with. Astle and Roger Twose fought but could not prevent the Kiwis from slipping further to 132 for five.
But Chris Cairns and Chris Harris stitched a match-winning 122-run partnership.
FILE PHOTO: Chris Cairns and Chris Harris during their 122-run partnership against India in the 2000 Knockout Trophy Final.
| Photo Credit:
V V KRISHNAN
FILE PHOTO: Chris Cairns and Chris Harris during their 122-run partnership against India in the 2000 Knockout Trophy Final.
| Photo Credit:
V V KRISHNAN
Cairns scored a scintillating century, taking New Zealand home in the final over of the match and securing the side’s first ICC title.
