Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul and Shreyas's 79 powered India to thrash New Zealand in the last group-stage fixture of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India will now face Group B runners-up Australia in the semi-finals as table toppers from Group A, while New Zealand will take on South Africa in the other semifinal.
Chasing a modest 250-run target, New Zealand’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 205 despite Kane Williamson’s anchoring half-century.
The Blackcaps fought valiantly, but their batting lineup faltered against India’s spin attack, eventually falling short of the target.
New Zealand’s chase started poorly, with Rachin Ravindra, the centurion from the previous match, getting out early for just 6 runs.
Following this early setback, Kane Williamson partnered with Will Young to stabilize the innings, and the duo put together a 32-run partnership before Chakaravarthy bowled out Young.
India bowlers consistently applied pressure on New Zealand, taking wickets at regular intervals, which severely hindered their progress.
Despite this, Kane Williamson fought hard, remaining at the crease until he was dismissed in the 41st over.
Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand skipper, also made a notable contribution, scoring 28 runs off 31 balls, including two sixes and one four, but he couldn’t help his team cross the finish line.
For India, Varun Chakaravarthy was the star of the show with his five-wicket haul, while Kuldeep Yadav provided strong support, taking two wickets.
The result reaffirmed India’s dominance in the tournament and exposed New Zealand’s vulnerability against quality spin bowling.
Earlier, opting to bowl first, New Zealand's pace duo of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry rattled India’s top order.
India suffered an early setback when opener Shubman Gill was dismissed for just two runs off seven balls in the third over.
Skipper Rohit Sharma followed soon after, managing 15 runs off 17 balls before heading back to the pavilion.
New Zealand struck again in the seventh over, claiming the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, who departed for 11 runs off 14 balls.
The Kiwi bowlers maintained their dominance, restricting India's scoring and making early inroads into their top order.
Shreyas and Axar put on a valiant 98-run stand for the fourth wicket before Axar perished on 42.
Rahul joined Shreyas to add 44 more runs before the latter finally succumbed after anchoring the innings with his 79.
Some late hitting from Hardik (45) ensured India got to a par score of 249, which should be well in range for this experienced Kiwi batting lineup.
For New Zealand, Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 5/42 in his eight overs, while Jamieson, O’Rourke, Santner, and Ravindra chipped in with a wicket each.
India’s Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand’s Playing XI
Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Will O’Rourke. .
Race for positions in semifinal:
It is pertinent to mention here that both teams have already secured a place in the semifinals, with the winner set to top the group. Rohit Sharma-led Indian side sealed their semifinal spot with back-to-back wins over Bangladesh and arch-rivals Pakistan.
Similarly, New Zealand won its matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh to book their place in the knockout stage. As both teams are already in the semis, India and New Zealand know exactly where and when their respective semi-finals will be played.
All that, however, remains to be decided is whom they will face there. India have a far better ODI record against New Zealand, as they have won 60 of the 118 one-day games they have played against Kiwis so far.
On the other hand, New Zealand have claimed 50 victories, while one match ended in a tie and seven had no result. In their most recent ODI encounter, India triumphed over New Zealand by 70 runs in the 2023 World Cup semifinal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Match Analysis:
As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches its knockout stage, an intense Group A encounter awaits as India and New Zealand face off in Dubai. While both teams have already secured semifinal berths, the match holds significant importance in determining the group’s top spot.
India, coming off a dominant victory against Pakistan, return to action after nearly a week’s break. Their campaign has gained momentum, with the batting unit finding form at the right time. Concerns over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s consistency have been eased, with Rohit providing aggressive starts and Kohli delivering a composed century in the high-pressure match against Pakistan. Shubman Gill has also impressed, while the middle order, featuring Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, has contributed when required.
In the bowling department, Mohammed Shami and Rana have provided pace and movement, while Kuldeep Yadav has maintained his reputation as a match-winning spinner. Hardik Pandya has been more effective with the ball than bat, delivering crucial breakthroughs. The bench strength remains intact, though some players will be keen to get game time ahead of the semifinals.
New Zealand, known for their ability to perform in ICC tournaments, have also been in formidable form, securing comprehensive wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their batting lineup has produced three centurions in just two matches, with Tom Latham, Will Young, and Rachin Ravindra all making valuable contributions. However, the team will be hoping for a resurgence from Kane Williamson, who has struggled for runs in the tournament.
The Kiwis’ fielding has been a standout, with Glenn Phillips making key contributions through acrobatic saves and sharp throws. Their bowling attack, particularly the spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, could be a deciding factor against India, whose batsmen have faced limited spin in the tournament so far. With Dubai’s pitches showing signs of slowing down, New Zealand’s spinners may pose a significant challenge.
Unlike India, who have played all their matches in Dubai, New Zealand have had to adjust to varying conditions across multiple venues. Now, they make the journey from Pakistan to Dubai for their final league match.
Statistically, India hold the upper hand, having won their last five ODIs against New Zealand, including the 2023 World Cup semifinal. However, with both teams in top form, the upcoming clash promises to be a thrilling contest as they battle for Group A supremacy.