IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Can Mitchell Santner Pull Off a Pat Cummins and Stun India?

The IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final is set to be a historic clash, as India stands just one win away from becoming the most successful team in Champions Trophy history with a potential third title. However, standing between them and glory is a familiar nemesis—New Zealand, a team that has often troubled India on the biggest stages.

Leading India into this monumental clash is Rohit Sharma, who has already made history by becoming the first captain to reach the final of all four ICC events. A victory in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final would make him India’s second-most successful limited-overs captain, further cementing his legacy.

But to achieve this feat, India must overcome the challenge posed by New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, who played a match-winning role in the semi-final against South Africa. Given his history of troubling India in major ICC tournaments, Santner could once again be a game-changer in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

Mitchell Santner: India’s Chief Destroyer in ICC Tournaments

While Santner’s overall stats against India may not appear overly dominant, he has been instrumental in India’s struggles in ICC tournaments.

Santner’s Notable Performances Against India in ICC Events:

📌 T20 World Cup 2016 – 4/11 (4 overs) in the opening match, leading to India’s shocking 47-run defeat.
📌 T20 World Cup 2021 – 0/15 (4 overs), suffocating India’s batting lineup and contributing to their early exit.
📌 ODI World Cup 2019 Semi-Final – 2/34 (10 overs), breaking India’s middle order and helping New Zealand reach the final.
📌 Test Series in October 2024 – 13/157, leading to India’s first home series defeat since 2012.

With such a record, Santner has built a reputation for neutralizing India’s batting powerhouses, making him a key figure to watch in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

Why Santner is a Major Threat in the Final

Despite his ODI bowling average against India (61.20) suggesting inconsistency, Santner’s economy rate of 4.75 tells a different story. He is not just a wicket-taker but a master at controlling the game, building pressure, and forcing errors—a crucial factor in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

His impact was clearly visible in the semi-final against South Africa, where he was brought into the attack in the 16th over and completely choked the Proteas’ batting lineup. Within a span of just four overs, he dismissed:

✅ Temba Bavuma
✅ Rassie van der Dussen
✅ Heinrich Klaasen

This spell completely derailed South Africa’s chase, proving once again that Santner thrives under pressure. The question now is—can he do it again in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final?

Santner to Take Inspiration from Pat Cummins’ Masterstroke?

New Zealand’s strength in ICC tournaments does not just lie in Santner’s spin, but also in their tactical discipline and fielding brilliance. The Kiwis are known for their sharp, agile fielders who rarely make mistakes—a stark contrast to the lapses shown by Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier in the tournament.

But beyond skill and execution, leadership and mental strength will be decisive in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

On November 18, 2023, just before the ODI World Cup final, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins made a bold statement:

“There’s nothing more satisfying in sport than seeing a big crowd go silent.”

The next day, he led Australia to a stunning victory over India in front of 1.3 lakh fans in Ahmedabad, proving that calm leadership and strategic execution can silence even the loudest of crowds.

Now, as Mitchell Santner prepares to lead New Zealand in yet another ICC final against India, he has the perfect opportunity to replicate Cummins’ feat—outthink, outplay, and stun India on the biggest stage.

New Zealand’s Dominance Over India in ICC Events

The IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final will also be shaped by past encounters, as history suggests that New Zealand holds a psychological edge over India in ICC tournaments.

India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ICC Events:

🔹 Champions Trophy Final 2000 – New Zealand defeated India to win their first-ever ICC trophy.
🔹 World Test Championship Final 2021 – New Zealand outplayed India to claim the inaugural WTC title.
🔹 Overall ICC Record – New Zealand has won 10 out of 16 ICC tournament matches against India.

These statistics highlight how New Zealand has consistently outperformed India in high-pressure knockout games, making them a serious threat in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

India’s Road to Glory: Overcoming the Santner Challenge

Despite these challenges, India has shown immense composure throughout the tournament. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team has displayed an aggressive yet controlled approach, proving that they can rise to the occasion in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

Why India Can Still Win the Final:

✅ Rohit Sharma’s Leadership – The most experienced captain in ICC finals.
✅ India’s Batting Depth – Featuring Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer.
✅ Balanced Bowling Attack – With Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja leading the charge.

India has all the ingredients to rewrite history and break the New Zealand curse, but they will have to neutralize Santner’s impact to get there in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final.

Final Verdict: Who Will Triumph?

The IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final presents a golden opportunity for both captains—Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Santner—to lead their teams to glory.

For India, this is a chance to solidify their dominance in white-ball cricket and claim their third Champions Trophy title.

For New Zealand, it’s an opportunity to continue their legacy of upsetting India in ICC events and prove once again that they are one of cricket’s most resilient teams.

With the battle lines drawn, all eyes will be on Mitchell Santner—can he pull off a Pat Cummins-like masterstroke and stun the Men in Blue? Or will Rohit Sharma and his team finally overcome their New Zealand nightmare?

The answer awaits on Sunday, March 9, in what promises to be a thrilling and historic ICC final! 🏆🔥