Dubai, March 2, 2025 – India secured a dominant 44-run victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025, setting up a thrilling semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai. The win came despite an early collapse from India’s top order, with the team relying on a stellar performance from its middle-order batters and a disciplined bowling attack led by mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Match Summary: India’s Middle Order Steps Up
After being put in to bat, India got off to a shaky start as the top three – Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli – failed to make an impact. This rare collapse left India struggling at 52/3 in the powerplay. However, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the innings with a crucial partnership, guiding India to a competitive total of 278/7 in 50 overs.
New Zealand’s chase never gained momentum as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Chakravarthy, India’s wildcard for the tournament, produced a match-winning spell, claiming 4/29 in his 10 overs. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj provided excellent support, ensuring that New Zealand was bowled out for 234 in 47.3 overs.
How Varun Chakravarthy Became India’s Wildcard
Chakravarthy, known for his mystery spin, has been a revelation in this tournament. Having made a comeback to the national team after a strong domestic season, his variations troubled the New Zealand batters throughout the innings. The 33-year-old spinner was particularly effective in the middle overs, breaking crucial partnerships and restricting the run flow. His ability to bowl in different phases of the innings makes him a key asset for India, especially as they prepare to face Australia in the semi-final.
Stats: A Rare Top-Three Failure for India
India’s top-order has been the backbone of their success in recent years, but this match saw an unusual failure from their key batters. Rohit Sharma (12), Shubman Gill (9), and Virat Kohli (15) collectively managed just 36 runs, marking one of their worst combined performances in a major ICC tournament.
- First time since 2019 – India’s top three have failed to cross 50 runs in a Champions Trophy match.
- Lowest aggregate in the last two years – The trio has been remarkably consistent, making this failure stand out.
- First time in 2025 – All three have been dismissed under 20 runs in the same innings.
Despite this rare setback, the middle order showed resilience, with Rahul (82) and Suryakumar Yadav (67) guiding India to a strong position.
India vs Australia: A High-Voltage Semi-Final Awaits
With this victory, India will now face their arch-rivals Australia in the semi-final at Dubai International Stadium. Australia, coming off a dominant group stage performance, will pose a significant challenge. India will rely on their in-form middle order and their potent bowling attack, spearheaded by Bumrah and Chakravarthy, to secure a place in the final.
Can India overcome Australia and move one step closer to the Champions Trophy title? Cricket fans across the world eagerly await the showdown.
