They Say Lightning Never Strikes Twice. But India Knows Better.
2019. 2021. Two ICC knockouts. Two heartbreaks. One common villain New Zealand.
They don’t possess the stardom of India. They don’t possess the fanfare. But they possess something much deadlier the ability to kill dreams silently.
Today is not only a final. It’s a reckoning. India has won all, but somehow, when it comes to New Zealand, there’s an untold chapter. This is the last page. And India is holding the pen.
Did You Know?
New Zealand has defeated India in two ICC knockouts since 2019.
India has lost all three of their last three ICC final appearances.
The last time India won the Champions Trophy? 2013. 12 years ago.
But this is not 2019. This is not 2021. This is an Indian team that does not crack under pressure anymore. The T20 World Cup 2024 vindicated that. The fear factor is gone. The hesitation period is over. Now, it’s all about getting the job done.
This is not merely about winning a trophy. This is about proving a point.
That India fears New Zealand no more.
That Rohit Sharma’s legacy won’t be one of “what ifs.”
That Virat Kohli has one more ICC masterpiece hiding in him.
That India doesn’t wait for greatness—it takes it.
600 balls. One last struggle. No second chance. Will New Zealand write another heartbreak script? Or will India once and for all nail the door shut on the past?
Today, the curse is either broken or repeated.
