Finance
India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India are the champions! The crowd bursts in jubilation as Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul celebrate their unexpected victory. Jadeja scored the winning runs for India with a four and raises his arm in triumph. Fireworks illuminate the sky as Indian players rush onto the field to honour their heroes.
Ravindra Jadeja has joined KL Rahul, with India needing 11 to win and four wickets remaining after Hardik Pandya was caught and bowled for 18. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya had a chance to become heroes as India entered the final five overs of the match. Rahul is gaining confidence, while Hardik lifted the burden off India with a six off Rachin Ravindra.
This match is far from done, New Zealand continues to pick up wickets, with Axar Patel holing out for 29. Sunil Gavaskar isn’t impressed and criticizes him on air. India loses their fifth wicket as the classic approaches its final ten overs. All eyes are on KL Rahul and his new teammate Hardik Pandya.
OUT! New Zealand is still in it. Every time there appears to be a drink interval, some Kiwi magic happens. Another wicket for New Zealand, this time from the well-set Shreyas Iyer, who is two runs short of his half-century. Is there a final story twist? Or more? With the final 10 overs approaching, India still needs a couple, and this has all the makings of a humdinger.
Incredible moment! Kyle Jamieson fumbled Shreyas Iyer’s ball after he hammered Glenn Phillips for a six, which may be the game-changer in the final. Meanwhile, India makes a much-needed stand, with Shreyas and Axar Patel bringing up their fifty-run partnership to soothe nerves.
The tension in the air can be felt as New Zealand puts pressure on India’s scoring rate. However, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel have settled into a singles game with the rare breakaway shot. Too many dot balls a few overs ago pushed Rohit Sharma to go for the glory shot, but unfortunately for him and India, the skipper was unable to put bat to ball and was stumped. The crowd at the Dubai International Stadium fell silent as Axar Patel joined Shreyas Iyer.
India reached 100 in the 17th over without losing a wicket. On the penultimate day, the captain raised his hand and said, ‘I am going to win this.’ Rohit Sharma hammered a 41-ball half-century to give India a flying start. His partner, Gill, received a lifeline when he was dropped at midwicket. Not long ago, the captain hit a third six to bring India’s fastest fifty of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rohit is doing Rohit stuff. The Indian innings begins with a flurry of boundaries and sixes, as the Men in Blue get off to a flying start in their quest of 252.
New Zealand concluded on 251/7 in 50 overs against India, thanks largely to a critical half-century from Michael Bracewell, following Daryl Mitchell’s half-century. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav were India’s strongest bowlers, scooping up two wickets each, and while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel didn’t have many wickets to show for their efforts, their combined squeeze helped keep New Zealand from reaching a much higher score.
New Zealand concluded on 251/7 in 50 overs against India, thanks largely to a critical half-century from Michael Bracewell, following Daryl Mitchell’s half-century. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav were India’s strongest bowlers, scooping up two wickets each, and while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel didn’t have many wickets to show for their efforts, their combined squeeze helped keep New Zealand from reaching a much higher score.
Earlier, Mitchell jaywalked to a half-century off 93 balls but was removed soon after, capping a very un-Mitchell effort. Mohammed Shami bowled him out, caught by Rohit Sharma, as the New Zealand innings came down to the final few overs. It was not just the slowest fifty of his career, but also New Zealand’s slowest in 11 years, as the Indian spinner tightened the screws on the opposition.
India, despite being a butter-fingered unit on the field, were rewarded with a wicket when Chakaravarthy clean bowled Glenn Phillips. Phillips was looking extremely threatening for Team India, having batted his way to 34 off 52 balls when a gem of a delivery from Varun Chakaravarthy – a bad one – took him out, bringing New Zealand down to their last five wickets.
India’s search for a fifth New Zealand wicket was put on wait for a while as missed catches continued to plague them. In a difficult time, Mitchell was granted two lifelines in consecutive overs, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill being blamed for the fielding errors.
Phillips gave New Zealand a move on from their ultra-caution approach. Phillips has taken India by surprise with some powerful smashes while Daryl Mitchell holds one end up. He hit his first six of the New Zealand innings after 81 balls off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav before shifting his focus to Ravindra Jadeja.
Earlier, Indian spinners tormented a New Zealand hitter, with Jadeja trapping Tom Latham for LBW to end a 33-run partnership. Kuldeep Yadav is unstoppable as he now has two wickets in two overs, first taking Rachin Ravindra and then tricking Kane Williamson into a straightforward catch. India is currently cock-a-hoop. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep have already spun their web on the Kiwis in this game.
Shami took down the dangerous-looking Rachin Ravindra, leaving Rohit Sharma distraught and immediately calling for the physio. This is Shami’s third caught and bowled, after dropping Travis Head and Steve Smith in the semifinals against Australia. Rachin relished his luck, first using DRS to overturn the decision to out, and then being dropped again, this time by Shreyas Iyer in the deep.
After remaining cautious for the first three overs, Rachin demonstrated his determination when he pulled Hardik Pandya for a full-blooded six over cow corner, followed by a couple of more boundaries to make it a 16-run over. Runs did not stop there. Rachin accelerated; how? Hammering four boundaries in six deliveries forced Rohit Sharma to put on his thinking cap.
Santner won the toss, and New Zealand batted first. This is India’s 15th consecutive toss loss, as Rohit Sharma’s luckless streak with coins continues. Matt Henry will not be playing for New Zealand, according to the skipper, who has replaced him with Nathan Smith. Meanwhile, India’s squad has remained unchanged.
Source: HT
