ICC Champions Trophy final: Decoding the weather and pitch report
What's the story
The final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place on Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Stadium, with a thrilling showdown between India and New Zealand.
India have been exceptional throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten and defeating Australia in the semi-finals.
New Zealand made their way to the final after a convincing victory over South Africa.
Here's more.
Weather forecast
Weather conditions for the final match
The weather forecast from AccuWeather predicts a warm day in Dubai, with temperatures hovering around 34°C during the afternoon.
As night falls, the temperatures are expected to drop to around 24°C.
The skies will be clear with no chance of rain, ensuring perfect conditions for the final clash between these two cricketing giants.
Pitch report
Pitch conditions favoring spin bowlers
The pitch at Dubai International Stadium is known to assist spinners, paving the way for a low-scoring match. A competitive total would be around 270-280 runs.
India's spin attack, comprising Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy, has been a key factor throughout the tournament.
However, New Zealand also have a strong spin quartet in Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips.
Player spotlight
Key players to watch in the final
India's batting will be spearheaded by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul also set to play pivotal roles.
Meanwhile, New Zealand will depend on their all-round prowess to clinch the title.
Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson played pivotal roles in their semi-final victory over South Africa and will be key players in Sunday's final.