New Zealand is a puzzle India have historically struggled to crack in global tournaments. In ICC events of the 50-over and 20-over varieties, the Kiwis hold an impressive 9-5 record (one no-result), heaping especially untold misery in the final of the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy (as the Champions Trophy was then known) in Nairobi and the semi-final of the 2019 50-over World Cup in Manchester.

India will be thrilled, therefore, that when they run into the Kiwis at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, it will in the secure knowledge that they have already made it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. New Zealand will have happy memories of not just their last showdown against India, when they swept a Test series in India 3-0 in October-November, but also of their last engagement against the Indians at this venue, an eight-wicket win at the T20 World Cup in 2021 which put Virat Kohli’s men out of the competition.