New Delhi: India are playing New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. While India’s spin attack Sunday rose to the occasion again, India’s fielding was subpar, topped with a leakage of runs during the tail end of the first innings.
New Zealand, on the other hand, got off to a flying start and, despite a dismal middle overs stage, showed absolute resolve to stay in the game with batting efforts coming from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell whose efforts led them to a respectable total of 251/7. India will hope the extra runs and New Zealand’s valiant efforts are countered by resilience from the Indian batting line-up as well.
This innings can be divided into three distinct parts. The first part was dominated by Kiwi opener Rachin Ravindra, who started off brilliantly tackling the nerves of a big final with his aggressive intent. New Zealand were cruising at 65/0 at one point, but their momentum was short-lived as they lost wickets in clusters, slipping to 75/3.
India then applied a spin choke, dominating the match until the 45th over. Although Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips showed grit, they couldn’t capitalise on their partnership. However, the last five overs belonged to New Zealand, particularly Michael Bracewell, who scored a fine knock of 53 off 40 to keep his team afloat. Daryl Mitchell was New Zealand’s highest scorer with a gritty knock of 63 off 101.
Spin vs pace
After losing the toss, India was put in to bowl by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. As the game progressed to its halfway mark, a stark contrast emerged between India’s spin efforts and pace performance—a difference that was as distinct as chalk and cheese.
Pace has gone for 104 runs in just 12 overs. Spinners have conceded just 144 in 38 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav spearheaded India’s spin assault, weaving a web of deception that bowled out New Zealand’s batters. Chakravarthy finished with impressive figures of 2/45, concluding the tournament with 9 wickets at an average of 14.55 and an economy rate of 4.51. Notably, six of those nine wickets fell to deliveries that would have hit the stumps.
Indian spinner Chakravarthy reflected on his spell, saying, “It was a good wicket compared to the last one. It was not turning much. I was just trying to stick it in the wicket and wait for the batter to make a mistake. I like bowling in the death and powerplay. It is challenging and gives me more opportunities to get a wicket. I like talking to Kuldeep. I am pretty new to the set-up and looking to build more bonds. The foot is a little sore, need more painkillers. This is a gettable score,” Chakravarthy said after the innings.
Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, bowled a ripper to dismiss a well-set Rachin Ravindra early in the innings, ending with 2/40 after his allotted overs. India’s left-handed duo of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja also deserve credit for their crucial role in choking New Zealand’s momentum during the middle overs.
Jadeja operated in energy-saving economy mode, finishing with an economy rate of 3, courtesy of his impressive spell of 1/30 in 10 overs. Axar Patel was equally frugal, but captain Rohit Sharma might be questioned for not utilising him fully, as Axar concluded with an economy rate of 3.62, conceding just 29 runs in 8 overs.
Spinners excellent again. Accuracy at the heart of it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 9, 2025
India’s pace attack took a pounding, with Mohammad Shami bearing the brunt, conceding 74 runs in 9 overs while claiming just one wicket at an economy rate of 8.22. Hardik Pandya fared no better, leaking 30 runs in his 3 overs at a costly economy rate of 10, courtesy of Bracewell’s batting in the death.
Beyond the brilliance of India’s spinners and the profligacy of the fast bowlers, another aspect that fell short was India’s fielding, not very ‘fielding medal’ like. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, the team failed to capitalise on half-chances, dropping a total of 7 catches, and also missed a crucial run-out opportunity when Kuldeep Yadav didn’t cover the stumps during the 41st over. These lapses could have restricted New Zealand’s total even further. However, India will hope to make amends with their batting, as the pitch is expected to play better in the second innings.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)