In the last group-stage ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul helped India to defend a modest total and beat New Zealand by 44 runs.
With Kane Williamson’s anchoring half-century, New Zealand’s batting team collapsed on a meager 205 while aiming a small 250-run mark. With a brave 81 from 120 deliveries mixed with seven boundaries, the seasoned hitter battled alone against India’s spin-loaded bowling attack.
The other noteworthy run-getters for the Blackcaps were opening hitter Will Young (22) and 28-year-old Skipper Mitchell Santner; the others fell short. With five wickets for just 42 runs in his ten overs, Chakravarthy was the best bowler India had. Kuldeep Yadav followed with two scalps.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner
The decision of New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner to bowl first paid off when their bowling team controlled the formidable Indian batting line and limited them to 249/9 in the designated 50 overs.
As Kyle Jamieson and Henry destroyed their top order – Shubman Gill (two), Rohit Sharma (15) and Virat Kohli (11) – to cut them to 30/3 in 6.4 overs, the 2013 champions started off unsteady. After the early fiasco, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel teamed up to start recovery since they scored a vital 98 runs for the fourth wicket until the latter perished in the 30th over.
Three fours plus a six helped Patel score 42 from 61 deliveries. Before Will O’Rourke closed curtains on his courageous knock, Iyer was then engaged in a brief 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket with KL Rahul. Comprising four fours and two sixes, his 98-ball 79 kept him the top scorer for India.
India slid to 223/7 in 45.5 overs after losing two more wickets quickly one after the other following his dismissal. Still, a strong 45-run cameo by Hardik Pandya down the order helped India to reach a competitive total. With 5/42 in his eight overs, Matt Henry led the bowling charge for New Zealand; Kyle Jamieson, O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner, and Ravindra each had one scalp.
