NZ vs IND: Top 3 batters to watch out for in New Zealand vs India Champions Trophy match 12

The final group match of Champions Trophy 2025 is finally upon us. Team India will take on New Zealand in what will be a keenly contested encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. New Zealand are top of the Group A with four points from two matches which is the same as India but are ahead due to better run-rate. 

One of the key talking points from the game will be the batting both sides possess. It will be the might of Indian batting versus New Zealand’s run-machine. Three Kiwi batters have already scored a ton in the tournament. Will Young and Tom Latham scored centuries against Pakistan while Rachin Ravindra scored a ton versus Bangladesh. 

India will be sweating about Rohit Sharma’s fitness as the 37-year-old is reported to have hamstring niggle. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli have already scored centuries in the tournament and look in decent nick with the bat. The likes of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul too have scored crucial runs to contribute for the team. 

Here are the top 3 batters to watch out for in IND vs NZ Champions Trophy match 12

3. Virat Kohli 

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli began Champions Trophy 2025 with his knock of 22 against Bangladesh. The 36-year-old then scored an unbeaten 100 against Pakistan to more or less guarantee India’s passage into the semi-finals. Virat Kohli will have happy memories of playing against New Zealand in an ODI. It was against the same opposition that Kohli scored his record breaking 50th ODI ton in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final game. 

2. Kane Williamson 

New Zealand’s best batter and former skipper Kane Williamson hasn’t had a great Champions Trophy so far. The 34-year-old though enjoys playing against India and has a good record against the Men in Blue. So far, Williamson has played 29 matches vs India and scored 1147 runs with an average of 44. The right-handed batter has also hit 10 fifties and one century and scored 69 off 73 balls in the semi-finals of ODI World Cup 2023. 

1- Shubman Gill 

ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill has been in great run of form with the bat in the last few weeks. The 25-year-old has an average of over 60 in his ODI career and his current scoring form has reminded fans of his exploits with the bat in 2023. Gill has played 10 ODI matches against New Zealand and 590 runs with an average of 84. His best score of 208 came against the same opposition during an ODI in 2023 which was played in Hyderabad. Gill has scored 406 runs this year in five matches with an average of 101 with two centuries and two fifties so far.