Varun Chakravarthy delivered a stunning performance, taking a five-wicket haul on his Champions Trophy debut, leading India to a 44-run victory over New Zealand. This win secured India’s position at the top of Group A and set up a semi-final clash with Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
India’s strategic use of spin proved decisive on a sluggish pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand’s batting lineup faltered against the four-man spin attack, with Varun Chakravarthy’s wizardry dismantling their efforts. Chakravarthy, added to the Champions Trophy squad at the last minute, showcased his skill by taking 5 wickets for 42 runs, restricting New Zealand to 205 runs in 44.3 overs.
India’s innings saw them score a total of 249 runs, with 124 runs coming off New Zealand’s spinners for the loss of just two wickets. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja each contributed to the Kiwi’s downfall by choking the run flow and applying constant pressure.
New Zealand’s inability to counter India’s spin attack resulted in their elimination from the tournament, despite their reputation for handling spin well. They were unable to cope with the variations from Chakravarthy, resulting in 155 dot balls during their innings.
With this victory, India now looks ahead to their semi-final match against Australia, while New Zealand is set to face South Africa in the second semi-final in Karachi on Wednesday.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Champions Trophy 2025.
