India faced New Zealand on March 9, 2025, for the ICC Champions Trophy final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This intense contest saw India, undefeated throughout the tournament, facing its only group stage defeat against New Zealand. The stakes were high as both teams battled for the prestigious title.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, setting the tone for the day. They managed to post a total of 251 runs for the loss of 7 wickets over the course of their 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell shone brightly for New Zealand, scoring 63 runs off 101 balls, with Michael Bracewell contributing significantly with 53 runs from just 40 balls. The Indian spinners showcased their prowess, led by Kuldeep Yadav, who took 2 wickets for 40 runs, and Varun Chakravarthy, who claimed 2 for 45. The duo's performance was pivotal, as they strangled the Kiwis’ batting order effectively.
Despite their efforts, New Zealand’s innings started well, reaching 69 for 1 after just 10 overs, but it was the Indian spinners who turned the match. Kuldeep's delivery deceived Rachin Ravindra, breaking their promising opening partnership. Following his dismissal, Kane Williamson fell shortly after, leaving New Zealand struggling at 75 for 3. Williamson, who had sustained a quadriceps strain during his innings, would not return to the field. Mark Chapman substituted for him during the second innings, raising concerns about his fitness moving forward.
India's bowling tactics focused heavily on spin, restricting New Zealand to just 144 runs off 38 overs at an impressive economy rate of 3.79. Despite Mitchell's and Bracewell's successful efforts toward the end, the top-order collapse and constant pressure from Indian bowlers hindered their scoring rate, leading to the total which India would chase.
India’s response to the chase began strongly with captain Rohit Sharma at the helm. At one point, Rohit was set to anchor the innings, having scored 76 runs, but he was stumped by Tom Latham off the bowling of Rachin Ravindra, invoking sudden pressure on the Indian innings.
The batting order unravelled rapidly as Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer soon followed Rohit back to the pavilion due to reckless shot selections and sharp fielding. Axar Patel's dismissal added more headache for India, who now needed to stabilize their innings after losing four wickets. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya found the crease together, with Rahul not out on 14 runs, but India required 48 runs off the remaining 45 balls to claim the trophy.
The turning performances from Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell stood out, with the former taking 2 wickets for 44 runs himself, underscoring the significance of their early breakthroughs, paving New Zealand's path to attempt to regain control over the match's momentum.
With the pressure mounting as they entered the last few overs, it became clear India needed to recalibrate. The runs-per-over climbed above six for the first time, necessitating targeted strokes to tip the match back toward them. It was this stage of the innings where composure was of utmost importance. KL Rahul, with Hardik Pandya at the other end, aimed to build a partnership rather than succumb to the mounting pressure.
Varun Chakravarthy highlighted how achievable the target was if India could bat well. He noted, "It is a gettable score if we bat well initially." This optimism would need to translate onto the pitch, as every ball counts during such high-stakes encounters.
Despite the challenging situation, energy remained palpable around the stadium as spectators held their breath, urging India forward. The crowd experienced tense moments stretched alongside the players on the pitch, where every ball held significant weight.
India's road to retrieving control of the game lies heavily on the two remaining batsmen at the crease. Hardik Pandya was tasked with not only providing quick runs but also ensuring Rahul remains anchored until the very end. Their partnership will be decisive, whether they can mitigate the earlier collapses and set up the match for India to snatch the trophy from the grasp of the Kiwis.
29 runs remain for India with just three wickets left—can they navigate through and finish strongly against New Zealand's formidable attack? The final overs promise to be mesmerizing as both teams stand at the edge of destiny, bidding for triumph at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.