Sarfaraz Ahmed picks India vs New Zealand winner of Champions Trophy final 2025

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has an advice for New Zealand ahead of their highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 clash against India. The wicketkeeper-batter feels that a team needs to be good in all three departments to beat a team like India.

Sarfaraz Ahmed is still seen as Pakistan's architect behind the historic Champions Trophy 2017 victory. In 2017, Pakistan defeated a strong Indian team in the final to be crowned as the champions of that edition.

Sarfaraz was the captain of that team as he led the team from the front. He had played some vital knocks during the tournament and helped the team get out of tough situations. His captaincy was brilliant throughout the tournament as he backed his young team to lift the title.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed's blunt advice for New Zealand

Before the Champions Trophy 2025 final, Sarfaraz Ahmed was asked about a tip for New Zealand to defeat India in the final. He was asked this question since he has already achieved this feat in 2017 as the captain of Pakistan.

"Bhaii hamara Jo hona tha ho gaya (Whatever happened with us has been done and dusted), you have to be good in all 3 departments to beat a great team like India," Sarfaraz was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Question: You defeated India in Champions Trophy final, any tip for New Zealand ?

Sarfaraz Answer: Bhaii hamara Jo hona tha ho gaya, you have to be good in all 3 departments to beat a great team like India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/XOsJlqm7uG

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) March 8, 2025

Pakistan lift CT 2017 title under Sarfaraz Ahmed

Under Sarfaraz Ahmed's leadership, Pakistan surprised everyone to win the Champions Trophy 2017. In the group stage, they struggled but managed to qualify for the semi-finals by winning some crucial moments.

In the semi-final, they defeated hosts England in a huge upset and then stunned India in the final. Pakistan won the final by a massive margin of 180 runs to complete a dream run during the tournament.

Sarfaraz Ahmed had a good tournament with both bat and as a captain. He played a vital knock of 61 off 79 balls in a must-win group stage match against Sri Lanka and helped his team qualify for the knockouts.

India, New Zealand to face off in summit clash

India and New Zealand will play the Champions Trophy 2015 final against each other in Dubai. It is expected to be a great match between two evenly matched sides capable of winning matches from any situation.

India have won all their four matches of the tournament while New Zealand have won three out of four matches they have played so far. Their only defeat came against India in the last group stage match of the tournament.

Both teams have in-form players on their side with potent line-ups. Spin is likely to play a key role given the pitch and the conditions in Dubai, and both the teams have qualified spinners in their respective line-ups.