Varun Chakravarthy Impressive Five-Wicket Haul Leads India to the Top of Group A – CT 2025
India secured first place in Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They achieved this with a strong 44-run win against New Zealand. The final group-stage match took place on Sunday, March 2, in Dubai. India earned six points with this win, while New Zealand came in second with four points.
Semi-Final Lineup Confirmed
After the group stage ends, India will play Australia, the Group B runners-up. The first semi-final is on March 4 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand will take on Group B toppers South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5. The tournament final is set for March 9. The venue will depend on India’s qualification. If India advances, it will be in Dubai. If not, it will take place in Lahore. Reserve days are allotted for both the semi-finals and the final.
India Overcome Early Collapse with Crucial Middle-Order Contributions
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner chose to bowl first. His bowlers quickly took down India, leaving them at 30/3 in just seven overs. However, Shreyas Iyer (79) and Axar Patel (42) led a 98-run partnership to stabilize the innings. KL Rahul (23) and a quickfire 45 off 45 balls from Hardik Pandya helped India reach a competitive 249/9 in 50 overs. Ravindra Jadeja (16) also played a key role in the lower order.
Matt Henry’s Five-Wicket Haul Stands Out for New Zealand
New Zealand bowler Matt Henry shone brightly, taking 5 wickets for 42 runs in 8 overs. Despite his efforts, the Indian middle order ensured a defendable total.
Varun Chakravarthy Fifer Leads India’s Spin Dominance
New Zealand struggled to chase 250 runs. India’s strong bowlers, especially the spinners, made it tough. Varun Chakravarthy made a strong ODI comeback. He won the match with his first five-wicket haul, taking 5 for 42. Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets for 56 runs. Hardik Pandya got 1 for 22. Axar Patel also took 1 for 32, and Ravindra Jadeja finished with 1 for 36.
Kane Williamson Fights Alone as New Zealand Falters
New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson stood out, scoring 81 runs from 120 balls. This was his 12th ODI score over 50 against India. However, with minimal support from the other end, the Kiwis were bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Opener Will Young (22) and Santner (28) were the only other players to cross the 20-run mark.
India’s strong win gives them momentum as they head to the semi-finals. New Zealand must regroup for their next match against South Africa.