India Triumph Over New Zealand to Secure Another ICC Trophy

Tags: Champions Trophy 2025,
India vs New Zealand, Final at Dubai, Mar 09, 2025,
India,
New Zealand

Published on: Mar 10, 2025

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New Zealand fought valiantly against tournament favorites India, but in the end, India’s quality and depth proved insurmountable. With this victory, India extended their unbeaten run across two consecutive ICC tournaments, now holding two of the four major ICC trophies while finishing as runners-up in the other two. Their recent dominance is highlighted by an incredible record 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. Having finally won a toss after losing 15 straight in ODIs, India saw New Zealand race to 69/1 in the powerplay. However, the Indian spin quartet, even on a surface offering the least turn in Dubai during this tournament, choked 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 set a competitive target.

India’s Chase: A Test of Depth and Grit

India started their reply in similar fashion, racing to 64/0 in the powerplay. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma (76) and Shubman Gill (66) put up a strong 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 dismissal after a breezy knock, New Zealand sensed an opportunity. However, India’s immense depth in batting prevailed. KL Rahul (32*) and Ravindra Jadeja (29*) calmly steered India home with one over to spare and four wickets in hand.

New Zealand’s Fiery Start and India’s Spin Mastery

New Zealand came in with limited spin options, while India boasted an arsenal that perfectly suited the conditions. Rachin Ravindra, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, played an exquisite knock of 37 off 29, taking full advantage of the new ball. However, India’s world-class spinners dictated terms once they settled in.

Varun Chakravarthy deceived Will Young with drift before trapping him lbw. Kuldeep Yadav then delivered two game-changing wickets, removing Ravindra with a deceptive wrong’un and later dismissing Kane Williamson with a ball that dipped sharply to induce a return catch.

From 75/3, New Zealand looked to Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell for stability. However, the relentless pressure forced Latham to take a risk against the ever-accurate Jadeja (10-0-30-1), only to be trapped lbw. India bowled an all-spin middle-overs phase for the second time this 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, suddenly 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 still had enough firepower. Confident in their deep batting lineup, they continued to play their shots. 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 short on close contests, this final delivered the excitement fans craved. While India had more resources suited to the conditions, the toss momentarily leveled the playing field. Yet, New Zealand’s efforts weren’t enough against India’s relentless skill and depth.

With this triumph, India continues to cement 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.