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Dubai’s International Cricket Stadium is gearing up to host the much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9 between India and New Zealand. The two teams have already faced each other once in this tournament, where India emerged victorious. However, New Zealand’s current form makes them a tough opponent in the final.
A big question on everyone's mind is: What happens if it rains? Will there be a reserve day? What are the ICC rules for rain-affected matches? Let’s find out in detail.
ICC Has Arranged a Reserve Day for the Champions Trophy Final
India, led by Rohit Sharma, has remained undefeated in the Champions Trophy 2025 so far. The team won all three league-stage matches before defeating Australia in the semi-finals. On the other hand, New Zealand’s only defeat in the tournament has been against India, making the final an exciting contest.
Now, let's talk about the weather conditions. According to AccuWeather reports, Dubai is unlikely to witness rain on March 9. However, ICC has taken precautions by setting up a reserve day.
- If the match cannot be completed on March 9 due to rain, it will be rescheduled for March 10.
- Unlike previous ICC tournaments, the match will restart from the beginning on the reserve day rather than resuming from where it stopped.
- This rule ensures both teams get a fair chance under the same conditions.
History of Rain-Interrupted Champions Trophy Finals
The 2002 Champions Trophy final between India and Sri Lanka was heavily affected by rain. Despite having a reserve day, the match could not be completed on both days. As per ICC rules at the time, both teams were declared joint winners.
A similar rule applies for Champions Trophy 2025:
- If the match cannot be completed due to continuous rain, the trophy will be shared between India and New Zealand.
- The result will not be based on prior performances in the tournament.
- The match must be fully completed to declare a winner.
To prevent such issues, ICC has also introduced reserve days for semi-finals alongside the final.
India vs New Zealand: A Champions Trophy Final After 25 Years
The India vs New Zealand rivalry in ODIs is historic. So far, both teams have played 119 ODIs, with India winning 61 and New Zealand winning 50. Seven matches ended with no result, while one ended in a draw.
Interestingly, the last time India and New Zealand played in a Champions Trophy final was in 2000. Back then, New Zealand defeated India to claim the title. Now, after 25 years, the two teams meet again in a Champions Trophy final.
With both teams in great form and Dubai’s International Cricket Stadium set for an exciting showdown, cricket fans worldwide are eagerly waiting for the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
