In a decisive Champions Trophy match on March 2, 2025, spinner Varun Chakravarthy delivered an impressive performance, securing figures of 5-42 and propelling India to a 44-run victory over New Zealand. This win ensured India’s top position in Group A, setting up a semifinal clash with Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first after being invited, India faced early setbacks, finding themselves at 30-3. However, Shreyas Iyer’s resilient 79 and a late surge of 45 runs by Hardik Pandya guided India to a total of 249-9. New Zealand’s pacer Matt Henry stood out with figures of 5-42 from his eight overs.
Chasing 250, New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson anchored the innings with a valiant 81 off 120 balls. Despite his efforts, the Indian spin trio—Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja—dominated the middle overs, leading to New Zealand’s dismissal for 205 in 45.3 overs.
Notably, India has been playing all their matches at Dubai International Stadium, having declined to tour hosts Pakistan due to security concerns. This arrangement has led to logistical challenges, with teams like Australia and South Africa traveling between Pakistan and Dubai without certainty about their match venues.
Looking ahead, New Zealand will face Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday. The outcomes of these semifinals will determine the finalists of the 50-over tournament.
