Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has picked New Zealand as India’s toughest opponent in the Champions Trophy. New Zealand are always known to punch above their weight in the major ICC events and they have their wood on India in the big matches.

New Zealand had beaten India in the 2019 World Cup semifinals and also won the ICC Test Championship final in 2023 against Rohit Sharma’s team. On the other hand, India defeated the Blackcaps by 70 runs in the semifinal of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Pakistan are the other two teams in Group A of the Champions Trophy along with India and New Zealand.

“I think in Group A, India’s hardest opponent is going to be New Zealand. Yes. They are playing some very good cricket, and we also know how they have troubled us consistently in multi-nation tournaments,” Kartik said on Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show.

Karthik reckons former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will be the key scalp for India as he always plays well under pressure.

“And I feel the key in New Zealand again will be Williamson’s wicket because he always plays well under pressure. So again, a key wicket for us will be Williamson. He is someone to watch out for,” Karthik added.

New Zealand recently won the ODI tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa and the Blackcaps will look to carry the good show in the eight-team tournament.

On the other hand, India recently won by 3-0 against England while playing in their own conditions.

India and New Zealand will take on each other on March 2 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20 whereas New Zealand will take on Pakistan in the tournament’s opener.