GameDay Squad Global Cricket: 2025 Champions Trophy Final Preview India vs. New Zealand

Champions Trophy Final Preview India vs. New Zealand– Who Will Claim the 2025 Champions Trophy?

The much-anticipated 2025 Champions Trophy final is set to showcase an electrifying battle between India and New Zealand. Coinciding with the final round of GameDay Squad (GDS) Global Cricket, this single-game round presents a unique opportunity for fantasy cricket enthusiasts to fine-tune their squads. With fewer selections to make, strategic precision is crucial to maximizing points.

Who wins the Champions Trophy Final Preview India vs. New Zealand?

This preview provides in-depth statistical analysis and key trends to help you make informed choices for your GDS squads. Selecting the right mix of form, game exposure, and player rarity will be instrumental in winning a GDS competition. To set the stage, let's first examine the best-performing players based on tournament averages, courtesy of the GDS Stats Centre.

Tournament Trends at Dubai

Dubai has consistently produced lower-scoring matches compared to Pakistan, where runs have flowed more freely. While Indian players have enjoyed extended breaks between matches, visiting teams have had to contend with travel fatigue. However, the longer rest period before the final should help New Zealand players be as fresh as possible.

India has played four matches in Dubai, securing victories against Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia in the semi-final. Below are key statistical insights from these matches:

Key Takeaways:

• India has bowled out opponents in 3 out of 4 matches.

• When chasing, India has lost an average of only 4.67 wickets per innings.

• The average number of boundaries (fours and sixes) per innings is significantly lower in Dubai, reducing GDS batting points.

• The highest team total in Dubai this tournament is 264.

Position-Wise Player Rankings

Wicketkeeper Selection

• Tom Latham: Opened the tournament with a stellar 118* against Pakistan but has struggled against semi-finalist teams. Limited keeping points.

• KL Rahul: Has 5 catches, 1 stumping, and batting scores of 41*, DNB, 23, and 42*. Though he has fewer runs than Latham, he has hit more sixes.

Verdict: Pick KL Rahul due to his additional keeping points and aggressive batting style, which maximizes bonus points from fours and sixes. If India is chasing, Latham could be a viable alternative.

Batting Choices

• Virat Kohli: The undisputed king of chases, with an impeccable record under pressure.

• Kane Williamson: Reliable performer with key innings of 102 vs. South Africa and 81 vs. New Zealand.

• Shreyas Iyer: One of the most in-form batters, consistently scoring fifties while batting at No. 4.

• Rohit Sharma: Explosive at the top but needs to convert aggressive starts into bigger scores.

Verdict: Pick Kohli, Williamson, and Iyer. If looking for variation, consider fading one of the big three. Rohit is a wildcard pick based on his attacking mindset.

All-Rounders to Consider

• Rachin Ravindra: Opens the batting, offering strong run-scoring potential.

• Axar Patel: Contributes in all facets—batting at No. 5, picking up wickets, and bowling maidens.

• Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja: Key options if India bats first, as they get more opportunities to contribute with the bat and ball.

• Glenn Phillips: Batting at No. 6 is a concern, and he has recently been New Zealand’s seventh-choice bowler.

• Michael Bracewell & Mitchell Santner: Expected to bowl their full quota of overs and contribute runs at No. 7 and 8.

Verdict: Lock in Rachin Ravindra and Axar Patel. For the remaining two, wait for the toss and decide between Santner, Bracewell, Pandya, and Jadeja. Currently, Santner and Jadeja are preferred due to Hardik’s uncertain bowling role.

Bowlers to Watch

Note – Kyle Jamieson is not GDS active and I assume Harshit Rana runs the drinks out.

• Varun Chakravarthy: Leading wicket-taker with 7 wickets in two games.

• Matt Henry: Took 5 wickets in his last match in Dubai.

• Mohammed Shami: A lethal bowler, but his role depends on match dynamics.

• Ben Sears & Will O’Rourke: O’Rourke has looked good against most teams, but India might handle him better.

• Kuldeep Yadav: Not a high-averaging bowler in GDS, but capable of taking multiple wickets in a match.

Verdict: Ensure you pick bowlers from both teams. Prioritize Varun and Kuldeep for their spin impact. If India bowls second, Shami is worth selecting. Between Henry and O’Rourke, Henry is the safer choice.

Conclusion

The final round of GDS Global Cricket presents a thrilling challenge, particularly in selecting bowlers and all-rounders. Given the similarities in team selections, the rarity of GDS cards will be a deciding factor in Classic through to Champion competitions.

Best of luck in chasing a round win and earning Prize Card rewards for seasonal ranks!

What are your thoughts on these insights? Which players are you locking into your squads? Leave a comment below and share your predictions!