IND vs NZ Weather Report - Who will be the champion if the Champions Trophy 2025 final gets washed out?

The final of the Champions Trophy 2025 will witness India taking on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9. This will be the second instance of the two nations taking on each other in the tournament, with the group-stage clash going in India's favour by 44 runs. 

India emerged as Group A's toppers by ending their league phase unbeaten. They ended up attaining victory over Bangladesh and Pakistan by six wickets, respectively. The final league game of the Men in Blue was won by 44 runs against the Kiwis.

New Zealand won their first game against Pakistan by a 60-run margin. Their second match was against Bangladesh, in which the Black Caps emerged victorious by five wickets. Their loss to India in Dubai was why they finished second in their group. 

Both the sides emerged victorious in their respective semi-finals. India got the better of Australia by four wickets in a closely-contested contest. On the other hand, New Zealand prevailed over South Africa by 50 runs. The nations have met each other in the final of the marquee ODI tournament in 2000, marking the upcoming fixture to be a significant opportunity to add to their history.

What will happen if the game is washed out?

One thing is for certain that the match will have to be completed for the winner to be decided. According to AccuWeather, the venue and the areas surrounding it is expected to be graced with clear skies. There is no forecast of rainfall, with temperatures predicted to reach up to around 31°C. The atmosphere is described to be partly sunny and quite warm, suggesting ideal conditions for a cricket contest.

If at all the game cannot be concluded on the scheduled day (March 9), it will be pushed over to Monday, March 10. Ahead of the tournament, the International Cricket Council had allocated reserve days for the semifinals and the final. If the game is still not able to get to its terminating point on the reserve day, the trophy will be shared between the two sides.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: 3 records that might get broken in final

History stands testament to a similar case involving India in the same tournament in its 2002 edition. Sri Lanka and India were adjudged joint winners after inclement weather played spoilsport during both days' second innings, forcing the two Asian nations to share the title. Interestingly, in both cases, Sri Lanka had won the toss and opted to bat first. India could only play two and 8.4 overs on September 29 and September 30, respectively.