Varun Chakravarthy’s stellar performance powered India to the top of Group A
DUBAI: Varun Chakravarthy’s remarkable five-wicket haul played a crucial role in India’s successful defense of a modest total, securing a 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage clash of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a manageable target of 250, New Zealand’s batting lineup crumbled for just 205, despite a resilient half-century from Kane Williamson.
The experienced batter fought valiantly against India’s spin-heavy attack, scoring a hard-fought 81 off 120 balls, including seven boundaries.
Captain Mitchell Santner (28) and opener Will Young (22) were the only other batters to offer some resistance, as the rest of the lineup failed to make an impact.
Chakravarthy was India’s standout performer with the ball, claiming 5/42 in his 10-over spell, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with two wickets.
Earlier, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner’s decision to bowl first proved effective as his bowlers put India’s batting order under pressure, restricting them to 249/9 in 50 overs.
India had a shaky start, losing Shubman Gill (2), Rohit Sharma (15), and Virat Kohli (11) early, courtesy of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry, leaving them struggling at 30/3 in 6.4 overs.
A crucial fourth-wicket stand of 98 runs between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel helped India recover before Patel was dismissed by Rachin Ravindra in the 30th over after scoring 42 off 61 balls, including three fours and a six.
Iyer then formed a brief 44-run partnership with KL Rahul before Will O’Rourke ended his gritty knock. He top-scored for India with 79 off 98 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and two sixes.
Following his dismissal, India suffered a mini-collapse, slipping to 223/7 in 45.5 overs. However, a late flourish from Hardik Pandya, who played a quickfire 45-run cameo, lifted them to a competitive total.
Matt Henry was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, finishing with 5/42 in eight overs, while Jamieson, O’Rourke, Santner, and Ravindra claimed a wicket each.
