Champions Trophy: Reiffel and Illingworth Appointed as Umpires for India vs New Zealand Final
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Synopsis
Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth have been appointed as on-field umpires for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand. The match is set to take place on Sunday in Dubai, following their previous officiating roles during the semifinals.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth to officiate final.
- India and New Zealand compete in Champions Trophy 2025 final.
- Illingworth previously officiated in ICC Men’s World Cup finals.
- Ranjan Madugalle will oversee the match.
- India aims for its third Champions Trophy title.
Dubai, March 6 (NationPress) Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth, both esteemed members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, have been selected as the on-field umpires for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final featuring India and New Zealand, scheduled to take place here on Sunday. Both umpires officiated during the semifinals, with Illingworth serving as the central umpire for India’s four-wicket victory over Australia and Reiffel overseeing the Black Caps’ 50-run triumph against South Africa the next day.
Illingworth, a four-time ICC Umpire of the Year, also officiated in the final of the recent ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, and he presided over the Group A match between these two finalists, which India won by 44 runs in Dubai. Joining them will be Joel Wilson as the third umpire and Kumar Dharmasena as the fourth umpire.
Both umpires were part of the officiating team in the second semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa, where Dharmasena was on-field, alongside Reiffel, with Wilson serving as the third umpire. The Trinidadian will reprise that role for the final, having done so in the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup final.
Ranjan Madugalle, the most experienced member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will oversee the match, as announced by the ICC on Thursday.
The team led by Rohit Sharma has been unbeaten throughout the tournament, aiming to secure their third title. India has previously won the ICC Champions Trophy twice, in 2002 (joint-winners with Sri Lanka) and 2013. They are the first team to reach the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time. In contrast, New Zealand last claimed the title in 2000, defeating India in the final.
India triumphed over Australia by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday, while New Zealand secured a 50-run victory over South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the second semifinal.
