In the final league match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India locked horns with New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 2, 2025. The stakes were high as both teams vied for the top spot in Group A. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bowl first, extending India’s unwanted streak of 14 consecutive toss losses. What followed was a rollercoaster of a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
India’s innings got off to a rocky start, crumbling to 30/3 within the first seven overs. The top order faltered early, with the spotlight firmly on Virat Kohli, who was playing his 300th ODI—a milestone that made him only the seventh Indian to achieve this feat. However, the ‘King’ couldn’t make an impact, falling for a modest score after a breathtaking catch by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry’s bowling dashed hopes of a big knock.
From the ashes of this collapse emerged a gritty fightback, led by Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel. Iyer scored 79 off 98 balls, and Patel’s steady 42 off 61 balls stitched together a vital 98-run partnership, pulling India back from the brink. Their resilience steadied the ship, offering a glimmer of hope on a pitch that demanded patience.
New Zealand’s spinners, however, turned the tide in the middle overs. Skipper Mitchell Santner, alongside Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra, showcased their guile, strangling India’s scoring rate with clever variations and tight lines. Ravindra’s dismissal of Patel was a turning point, breaking the stubborn stand and tilting momentum back toward the Kiwis.
As the innings neared its climax, Hardik Pandya injected life into India’s total with a brisk 45 off 45 balls. His late flourish propelled India toward a competitive 249/9 in their 50 overs, despite wickets tumbling in the death overs. New Zealand’s pace spearhead Matt Henry was the standout bowler, finishing with an impressive 4-wicket haul that kept India in check.
The Dubai pitch offered something for everyone—early movement for the pacers, grip for the spinners, and enough for batsmen willing to dig in. India’s total, though modest, set the stage for a tense chase, with New Zealand’s batting depth and India’s bowling prowess promising a gripping second half. This match, laced with historical weight—India leading the ODI head-to-head 60-50—and individual milestones, underscored the intensity of this Champions Trophy showdown. As the semi-finals loom, both teams will take lessons from this battle into the knockout rounds.
Edited by Shvetank Maurya
