New Zealand and India meet in tune-up before semi-finals: Match Preview

Both New Zealand and India have booked their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. But first, they must face off to determine who tops Group A. This will also help settle up the semi-final permutations.

The match acts as a perfect tune-up, heading into the next stage of the tournament.

It’s the only two remaining teams to have won every match at the tournament doing battle and there’s plenty to play for. Here’s where it’ll be won and lost.

WATCH: All On The Line Preview | NZ v IND | Champions Trophy 2025

Squads:

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy

How to watch the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Recent form:

New Zealand: Similar to India, New Zealand are one of the in-form ODI teams in world cricket right now. They’ve already played eight One Day Internationals this year and only lost one of them, which was a dead rubber against Sri Lanka in a 2-1 series win in January.

Leading into the tournament, the Black Caps claimed all three Tri-Nation matches against both Pakistan and South Africa. They won both of their group stage encounters with ease in the competition.

India: After their strong victory over Pakistan in Dubai, India is now nine wins from ten white ball encounters so far this calendar year.

While they can afford to drop this game, having already secured semi-finals qualification, knocking off a fellow tournament contender would have to feel good, as they move into the knockout stages.

Players in focus:

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell

Bracewell is unquestionably in focus after his return of 4/26 off 10 overs against Bangladesh last start. He complemented the Kiwis’ tall pace attack, taking advantage of Tigers batters targeting the slow bowling.

Bracewell only took the one wicket against Pakistan, but only conceded 38 runs from his 10 overs in another economical display. The right-arm off-spinner’s role against this fierce Indian batting dugout will prove pivotal.

India: Mohammed Shami

India’s opening bowler made major inroads against Bangladesh, taking five scalps, before going wicketless against Pakistan.

It was the Indian spinners that did the damage against their subcontinent rivals, but if Shami can take care of New Zealand’s top order with an early breakthrough or two, the spin brigade will smell blood in the middle overs.

How to watch:

India: JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar, Television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels)

Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app

UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY

UK: Live broadcasting on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, Digital coverage via SkyGO, NOW and Sky Sports App

USA and Canada: WillowTV, Streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)

Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean on TV, Streaming via ESPN Play Caribbean app

Australia: PrimeVideo (coverage available in Hindi too)

New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, digital coverage via Now and SkyGo app.

South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App

Bangladesh: Nagorik TV and T Sports for linear broadcast, digital via Toffee app

Afghanistan: ATN

Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on Linear), Digital via Sirasa

The games can also be viewed on ICC.tv (In select territories)