India vs New Zealand highlights, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India beat New Zealand by 44 runs, to face Australia in semifinal

India vs New Zealand highlights, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Varun Chakravarthy spearheaded India’s bowling attack with a sensational 5-42, the best figures by any bowler in the tournament so far, as India secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

With this win, India finished as Group A toppers and set up a high-stakes semifinal clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final. New Zealand, on the other hand, will face South Africa in the second semifinal at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

After Shreyas Iyer’s composed 79 guided India to 249/9 in 50 overs, Chakravarthy bamboozled New Zealand’s batters with his variations on his Champions Trophy debut, taking 5-42 in 10 overs to bowl them out for 205 in 45.3 overs.

For New Zealand, captain Kane Williamson fought a lone battle, crafting a gritty 81 off 120 balls on a challenging surface, using nudges, glances, and inside-out shots to keep his side in contention. However, with India’s spinners tightening the screws in the middle overs, Rohit Sharma & Co. remained unbeaten in the tournament.

India could have struck early in the fourth over had Chakravarthy not spilled a catch at mid-on off Hardik Pandya’s bowling, inadvertently kicking the ball away for four. However, four balls later, Pandya provided the breakthrough as Rachin Ravindra’s attempted upper cut found Axar Patel at deep third for a low diving catch.

Though Williamson and Will Young found a few boundaries, India’s disciplined bowling kept them in check as New Zealand reached 44/1 in the first powerplay. Chakravarthy, getting sharp turn from the surface, got his name on the wickets column when Young inside-edged a googly onto his stumps.

As the Indian spinners extracted more turn, Williamson and Daryl Mitchell opted for a cautious approach, rotating the strike while capitalizing on occasional loose deliveries. Their 44-run stand was broken by Kuldeep Yadav, who deceived Mitchell with a well-flighted googly that spun past his inside edge to trap him lbw for 17.

Williamson battled on, reaching his half-century in 77 balls by guiding Jadeja through fine leg for four. He kept New Zealand in the chase, finding gaps with precise strokes, including an elegant inside-out drive off Jadeja. However, the left-arm spinner had the last laugh, trapping Tom Latham lbw for 14 with a sharp turner.

Jadeja could have dismissed Williamson on 68, but KL Rahul spilled the chance behind the stumps. Chakravarthy, though, struck twice in quick succession, trapping Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell lbw—though replays later showed Bracewell should have survived as the ball was missing the stumps.

The defining moment came when Williamson, looking to accelerate, charged down the track to loft Axar Patel over mid-on but missed, allowing Rahul to complete an easy stumping. His resilient knock of 81 off 120 balls came to an end, leaving New Zealand in deep trouble.

Mitchell Santner struck some late boundaries in a fighting 28 off 31 balls, but Chakravarthy returned to rattle his off-stump, sealing India’s win with a well-deserved five-wicket haul.