India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Varun Chakravarthy fifer powers IND's 44-run win

India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Varun Chakravarthy finished with figures of 5/42

India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Varun Chakravarthy had a few nights to forget in the UAE the last time he played international cricket here but he has returned to the venue with a bang and then some. Being given a chance to play for the first time in this Champions Trophy, Chakravarthy led the Indian spinners' domination of the New Zealand batters and finished with figures of 5/42. India thus beat New Zealand by 44 runs in their final group game and confirmed a date with Australia in the semi-final that will be played on Tuesday.

Axar Patel was the player who started the chokehold that India's spinners have employed on New Zealand today but he looked set to finish his spell wicketless. However, he ended up getting a scalp off the last ball after all and it was none other than Kane Williamson who fell. The former New Zealand captain was the only one who seemed capable of navigating the Indian attack and he was holding all of New Zealand's hopes going into the last 10 overs. He fell on 81 off 120 balls.

Williamson was pretty much the only New Zealand batter who could withstand the chokehold applied by the Indian spinners after the first 10 overs. The former New Zealand captain ground out his half-century in 77 balls. Varun Chakravarthy dismissed the in-form Will Young in the 12th over after Hardik Pandya gave India an early breakthrough as they defend a target of 250 in their final group game of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Dubai. India have their work cut out, though, with New Zealand having the legendary Kane Williamson out there with the in-form Tom Latham.

Shreyas Iyer's half-century and a late charge from Hardik Pandya took India to a score of 249/9 in 50 overs as New Zealand stayed on them throughout their innings with the ball and in the field. Matt Henry got a five-wicket haul returning figures of 5/42 while Kyle Jamieson conceded just 31 runs in eight overs. New Zealand's spinners also ensured that India don't manage to score at too quick a rate in the middle overs.

Iyer scored 79 in 98 balls while Pandya scored a run-a-ball 45. Iyer continued his good form, registering a mighty fine half-century, but just when his partnership with Axar Patel was nearing a century, Rachin Ravindra broke the partnership and sent the Indian all-rounder packing. Axar and Shreyas took time to settle in, but once they did, boundaries began to come by after a long, hard spell of India struggling to break free.

A little earlier, India scored their first boundary after 51 balls with Axar Patel breaking the shackles. The going was tough in the last few overs as India lost Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to go three down for 30 after being put in to bat. Rohit got off to a flying start but it was a rare single-figure score for Shubman Gill as he fell to Matt Henry in the third over. Kohli began with intent but it was that man again, Glenn Phillips, who took a one-handed screamer in 0.62 seconds to end Kohli's outing in his 300th ODI with a whimper.

New Zealand are bowling first with Mitchell Santner winning the toss. Rohit Sharma said that India would've wanted to bat first any way. India have rested Hasrhit Rana and included Varun Chakravarthy in their squad while New Zealand have brought back Daryl Mitchell for Devon Conway.