Tags: Champions Trophy 2025, India vs New Zealand, Final at Dubai, Mar 09, 2025, India, New Zealand
Published on: Mar 10, 2025
Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs
New Zealand put up a spirited fight against tournament favorites India, but India’s superior quality and depth ultimately proved too much. With this win, India extended their unbeaten streak across two consecutive ICC tournaments, now holding two of the four major ICC trophies and finishing as runners-up in the other two. Their recent dominance is underscored by an incredible record of winning 22 out of their last 23 completed matches in ICC events.
A Crucial Toss and a Challenging Pitch
On a worn-out pitch that made scoring difficult, India’s spinners took control after New Zealand’s aggressive start. India, having finally won a toss after 15 consecutive losses in ODIs, saw New Zealand race to 69/1 in the powerplay. However, India’s spin quartet, even on a surface offering the least turn in Dubai during the tournament, stifled the scoring. Bowling a combined 38 overs, the spinners conceded just 144 runs while picking up five wickets. A late flourish by Michael Bracewell (53 off 40) helped New Zealand post a competitive target.
India’s Chase: A Test of Depth and Grit
India started their reply strongly, reaching 64/0 in the powerplay. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma (76) and Shubman Gill (66) put up a solid 105-run stand, but New Zealand kept chipping away. With the pitch offering increased turn—2 degrees in the first innings and 3.4 in the second—New Zealand’s spinners kept the contest alive. They bowled 35 overs, conceding 152 runs and taking five wickets.
Despite India’s dominance, no batter managed to stay till the end. Every player contributed, but after Kohli’s early dismissal and Rohit’s departure following a breezy knock, New Zealand sensed an opportunity. However, India’s immense batting depth prevailed. KL Rahul (32*) and Ravindra Jadeja (29*) calmly guided India to victory with one over to spare and four wickets in hand.
New Zealand’s Fiery Start and India’s Spin Mastery
New Zealand entered the match with limited spin options, while India boasted a spin arsenal perfectly suited to the conditions. Rachin Ravindra, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, played a classy knock of 37 off 29, capitalizing on the new ball. However, India’s world-class spinners took charge once they settled in.
Varun Chakravarthy deceived Will Young with drift before trapping him lbw. Kuldeep Yadav then delivered two crucial wickets, removing Ravindra with a deceptive wrong’un and later dismissing Kane Williamson with a sharply dipping delivery that induced a return catch.
From 75/3, New Zealand relied on Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell for stability. However, the relentless pressure forced Latham to take a risk against the accurate Jadeja (10-0-30-1), only to be trapped lbw. India bowled an all-spin middle-overs phase for the second time in the tournament, restricting New Zealand’s scoring options. Mitchell fought hard, scoring a sluggish fifty before falling to a clever slower delivery from Mohammed Shami.
Bracewell provided the final flourish, striking three fours and two sixes to give New Zealand a respectable total, though it still felt below par.
The Chase: Drama and Resilience
Rohit Sharma set the tone early, taking on the fast bowlers. But New Zealand struck back, with Glenn Phillips pulling off a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Gill. Bracewell then removed Kohli for just one, halting India’s early momentum.
Rohit attempted to rebuild, but after a period of tight bowling, he was stumped while trying to attack Ravindra. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel steadied the innings with a 61-run stand, but Iyer’s edgy innings saw him get multiple reprieves before eventually falling in the 39th over.
With 67 needed off 68 balls, India’s deep batting lineup remained confident. KL Rahul’s calm presence ensured there were no last-minute jitters, while Jadeja provided the finishing touch. Even a late blow—Hardik Pandya’s dismissal to a sharp bouncer from Kyle Jamieson—couldn’t derail India’s march to victory.
A Fitting Finale
In a tournament that had few close contests, this final delivered the excitement fans craved. While India’s resources were better suited to the conditions, the toss momentarily leveled the playing field. However, New Zealand’s efforts fell short against India’s relentless skill and depth.
With this triumph, India continues to solidify its place as a modern cricket powerhouse, showcasing not just individual brilliance but a complete team effort that has made them the team to beat on the global stage.
