India secured a commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium.
With this win, India finished at the top of the group and will now face Australia in the semi-finals, while New Zealand will take on South Africa in the knockout stage.
Varun Chakravarthy was the star of the night, claiming five crucial wickets to dismantle the Black Caps' chase of 250. Despite a fighting 81 from Kane Williamson, New Zealand fell short as India’s disciplined bowling attack proved too strong.
New Zealand had won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that initially worked in their favour. India found themselves in early trouble, losing Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gill (2), and Virat Kohli (11) within the first seven overs, leaving the scoreboard at 30 for 3. However, Shreyas Iyer led the fightback with a composed 79 off 98 balls, anchoring India’s recovery.
Axar Patel contributed 42 runs, while Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 45 provided further stability to the innings. The middle order’s resilience helped India post a competitive total of 250 before being bowled out.
Matt Henry was the standout performer for New Zealand, picking up five wickets and causing significant trouble for the Indian batting lineup.
Chasing 251, New Zealand started steadily, with skipper Mitchell Santner's men looking to build partnerships. However, Indian bowlers struck at crucial moments to keep the pressure on. Williamson held the innings together with a well-compiled 81, but lack of support from the other end made the chase difficult.
Varun Chakravarthy’s magical spell rattled the New Zealand batting order, as he finished with figures of 5 for 38. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav also provided important breakthroughs, ensuring New Zealand never built enough momentum.
Despite their recent dominance over India in ICC tournaments, the Kiwis could not replicate their past success on this occasion. India’s bowling unit showcased discipline and consistency, ultimately guiding them to a crucial win.
With this victory, India have gained confidence heading into the semi-finals against Australia, a contest expected to be a thrilling encounter between two top sides. Meanwhile, New Zealand will look to regroup before facing South Africa in their knockout clash.
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