Bangladesh and New Zealand are up against each other in match number 6 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Monday, February 24. The match is set to be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. India humbled Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener in Dubai on February 20. Bangladesh were in tatters and suffered with the bat. On the other hand, New Zealand tamed Pakistan in an all-round display on February 19, winning the clash by a whopping 60 runs. It’s do-or-or-die for Bangladesh, as a defeat could potentially end their Champions Trophy journey. New Zealand are the favourites here, as a win could see them progress to the semi-finals.
Bangladesh need to improve in all areas to challenge this Kiwi side who is on a roll at the moment, having won the ODI tri-series in Pakistan recently.
In terms of the head-to-head, the two teams have met 45 times. New Zealand have won 33 of these matches with Bangladesh claiming 11 wins. One game didn’t have a result.
Ahead of a crucial contest, here we present the key player battles which can govern the contest.
Mustafizur Rahman vs Will Young
New Zealand’s Will Young hammered a fine century in match 1 of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. It was a solid effort from the opening batter, who showed a lot of composure. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman picked one wicket against India, giving away 62 runs from 9 overs.
As per ESPNcricinfo, in 4 meetings, Fizz has dismissed Young once. The batter has scored 36 runs from 49 balls. His strike rate is 73.46.
In powerplay overs, Fizz has an average of 28.74 across 85 innings, picking up 39 scalps. His ER is 4.69. Young has scored 663 runs in 40 innings at 41.43 in the powerplay overs. However, he has been dismissed 16 times.
Against left-handed pacers in ODIs, Young has an average of 62 from 27 innings. He has scored 310 runs, being dismissed 5 times.
Rishad Hossain vs Daryl Mitchell
Rishad Hossain was one of the positives with the ball for Bangladesh versus India. He dismissed Virat Kohli and did a reasonable job, claiming 2/38 from his 10 overs. Rishad will target the dangerous Daryl Mitchell, who is a crux batter in NZ’s middle order.
Rishad is yet to bowl against Mitchell in ODIs. This could be the first meeting. Notably, Mitchell averages a neat 46.71 against right-arm leg-spin in ODIs from 23 innings. He has been dismissed 7 times. He owns 327 runs from 317 balls. Digging deeper, Mitchell has faced leg-spin across 12 innings in Asia. He averages 35 and owns 175 runs from 187 balls, being dismissed 5 times.
Meanwhile, Rishad averages a dismal 49.60 with the ball against right-handed batters. Across 8 innings, he has conceded 248 runs from 270 balls. He owns 5 wickets. In Asia, Rishad’s average increases further to 54. Across 3 innings, he has conceded 108 runs, taking two scalps.
Mitchell Santner vs Mushfiqur Rahim
New Zealand’s skipper and left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner, picked two scalps in his side’s clash versus Pakistan in the CT opener. On the other hand, Mushfiqur Rahim fell prey to left-arm spinner Axar Patel. He was out fishing the first ball and was caught. This clash could see a massive contest between Santner and Rahim.
Across 7 ODI innings, Rahim has an average of 46 against Santner, being dismissed once. He has faced 71 balls for his 46 runs, striking at a paltry 64.78.
Overall, across 107 innings, Santner has dismissed right-handed batters 85 times at 35.27. In Asia, Santner averages 34.35 from 30 innings. He has picked a total of 31 scalps.
Rahim has smashed 590 runs versus left-arm spinners across 70 innings at 34.70 in Asia. He has been dismissed 17 times. Overall, in ODIs, he has scored 867 runs from 105 innings at 34.68. Left-arm spinners have dismissed him 35 times.
Taskin Ahmed vs Kane Williamson
Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed will aim to keep Kane Williamson quiet. He has a decent record over the star batter, who didn’t perform well against Pakistan in the opener.
Taskin has bowled to Kane Williamson across 5 innings. He has given away 46 runs from 74 balls, averaging 23. Williamson has been out twice against the right-arm pacer.
In 76 innings, Taskin averages 24.68 against right-handed batters. He owns 87 scalps. In Asia, his average improves to 20.45. In 47 innings, he has 61 scalps against right-handed batters.
Meanwhile, Williamson averages 57,70 versus right-arm pacers across 153 innings. He owns 3347 runs and 58 dismissals. In Asia, he averages 46.23 with 601 runs from 36 innings. He has been dismissed 13 times.
Matt Henry vs Soumya Sarkar
NZ pacer Matt Henry was superb against Pakistan the other night and didn’t allow the Pakistan openers any space in the powerplay overs. On the other hand, Sarkar was out for a five-ball duck against India. Mohammed Shami outfoxed him.
Henry holds a solid record against Sarkar in ODis. In 5 innings, the senior NZ pacer owns three dismissals at just 12.66. Sarkar has scored 38 runs from 40 balls.
Overall, Henry averages 28.33 against left-handed batters from 83 innings. He owns 51 scalps. 30 of these wickets have come from 70 innings in the powerplay overs at 25.86.
Sarkar averages 32.56 with a strike rate of 90-plus in PP overs against right-arm pacers, scoring 749 runs from 52 innings.