Dubai, March 2, 2025: Varun Chakaravarthy produced a match-winning five-wicket haul as India secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, confirming their place in the semi-finals.
Chasing 250 on a sluggish Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch, New Zealand struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 205.
Kane Williamson fought hard with a gritty 81 off 120 balls, but the Black Caps lost wickets at regular intervals, never gaining control of the chase. Mitchell Santner added a quick 28 off 31, but Chakaravarthy’s brilliance sealed the game for India.
The mystery spinner registered his best ODI figures of 5/38, while Kuldeep Yadav contributed with 2/41, dismantling New Zealand’s middle order.
Earlier, Matt Henry put up a stellar bowling performance, taking 5/42 to limit India to 249/9 in 50 overs.
Opting to bowl first, New Zealand made early breakthroughs, removing Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gill (2), and Virat Kohli (11) inside the powerplay.
At 30/3, Shreyas Iyer (79 off 98) and Axar Patel (42 off 61) rebuilt the innings with a 98-run stand, while KL Rahul (33) provided stability.
Despite losing wickets in quick succession, Hardik Pandya’s aggressive 45 helped India post a competitive total.
Apart from Henry’s five-wicket haul, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra claimed a wicket each.
With this win, India finishes as Group A leaders and advances to the semi-finals with strong momentum.
