The ICC has revealed the roster of match officials for the forthcoming Champions Trophy final featuring India and New Zealand. Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth will serve as the on-field umpires, while Joel Wilson will fulfill the role of TV umpire.

Furthermore, Kumar Dharmasena will act as the fourth umpire, and Ranjan Madugalle will oversee this prestigious match.

Indian supporters may have mixed feelings regarding Illingworth's involvement as an umpire. The English official officiated the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which India lost in a dramatic manner, and the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India secured their first ICC trophy in 11 years.

Illingworth also officiated the group stage match between India and New Zealand in Dubai earlier this week, where India emerged victorious, finishing at the top of the group with a 44-run win over the Kiwis. On Tuesday, he was also the umpire for the semifinal match between India and Australia.

In contrast, Australian umpire Reiffel officiated the second semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa on Wednesday, where the Kiwis triumphed by 50 runs, bolstered by centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.

Both umpires closing in on 100 ODIs

Illingworth, a distinguished four-time ICC Umpire of the Year, is nearing the milestone of officiating in 100 One Day International (ODI) matches as an on-field umpire. This match marks his 99th ODI in a career spanning 15 years. His colleague for this encounter, Reiffel, brings considerable experience as well, officiating in his 95th ODI since his debut in 2009.

India enters this match as the favored team, having played all their games in Dubai, while New Zealand has faced the challenge of traveling between the UAE and Pakistan. Additionally, India will draw confidence from their earlier victory against New Zealand in the group stages, where Varun Chakravarthy excelled with a five-wicket haul, complemented by significant contributions from Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel with the bat.

New Zealand, however, holds some hope due to the strong batting performances from their top order, which includes Williamson, Ravindra, Will Young, and Tom Latham. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday at the DICS.

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