Dubai, Mar 09 (ANI): India Faces New Zealand for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Title
The highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy Final is underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with India set to chase New Zealand's target of 252 runs to win the coveted title.
New Zealand, opting to bat first after winning the toss, managed to put up 251 runs for 7 wickets after 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 63 runs off 101 balls. He received solid support from Michael Bracewell, who contributed 53 runs off 40 balls to help New Zealand post what many see as a competitive total.
India's bowlers, particularly spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, were effective, each securing two wickets. Kuldeep's impressive bowling earned him two scalps for 40 runs, helping to restrict New Zealand after they had gotten off to a decent start. "It hasn’t changed much... That’s what we’ve done and we have to do today as well," emphasized Indian captain Rohit Sharma, reflecting on their strategy for the chase.
After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner stated, "We’re going to have a bat first. It looks like a pretty good wicket... We want to get runs on the board and see what happens." His team's innings included highlights such as contributions from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, contributing scores of 37 and 34 respectively, maintaining momentum until the later stages.
India had their share of trouble with the bat. After starting off strong with Rohit Sharma building the innings, quick wickets began to trouble them. Shubman Gill was dismissed by Glenn Phillips, and soon after, Virat Kohli fell to Michael Bracewell for just 1 run, leaving India at 106 for 2 and creating palpable tension among fans. "I am expecting a good performance from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They are going to hit centuries... India will lift the trophy," cheered one optimistic fan before the match.
The spinners from New Zealand were instrumental during this phase. Mitchell Santner's introduction to the attack made significant impact; it was his delivery combined with Bracewell’s skillful bowling, which effectively shifted the game under New Zealand’s control. With India at risk of losing momentum, it was on Sharma to find ways to stabilize the innings and capitalize on the scoreboard.
Earlier, as the match kicked off, Rohit noted, "We've been here enough, batted first and bowled first, don't really mind batting second." His insights echoed past encounters where India had faced this formidable New Zealand squad multiple times, their history also underlining New Zealand's upper hand with four wins across eight ICC tournaments, highlighting the mounting pressure on the Indian team.
With 122 runs on the board at the moment, India is still well-positioned but faced with the reality of needing to anchor their innings effectively. Today's match sees pivotal players working to keep the run rate steady, with Sharma carrying the responsibility to lead India to victory.
With the climax of this thrilling contest nearing, the spirit of cricket remains vibrant, as fans from both sides cheer passionately for their teams. India, unbeaten throughout this tournament, is now at the pivotal moment to cement its claim to the Champions Trophy title.