Shreyas Iyer’s fifty vs New Zealand, Varun Chakravarthy’s sensational five-wicket haul, and Hardik Pandya’s late-innings fireworks propelled India to a 44-run victory in their final Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With this win, India remained unbeaten in the group stage, setting up a highly anticipated semi-final clash against Australia.
Despite an early collapse, Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings, guiding India to a competitive total of 249/9, while Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin dismantled the New Zealand batting lineup.
Shreyas Iyer Fifty vs New Zealand: A Crucial Knock Under Pressure
Unlike India’s dominant performances against Pakistan and Bangladesh, this match saw the team in an unfamiliar position as the top order collapsed early. The trio of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli failed to provide stability, falling victim to Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry’s fiery spell.
Shreyas Iyer Anchors the Indian Innings
Walking in at number four, Shreyas Iyer took control of the innings, playing a mature and composed knock. Unlike previous matches where he had the luxury of attacking from the start, this time he had to rebuild the innings from scratch.
👉 Key Stats – Shreyas Iyer Fifty vs New Zealand:
- Runs Scored: 50 (75 balls)
- Strike Rate: 66.67
- Fours/Sixes: 3/1
Iyer reached his half-century with a single off Rachin Ravindra, demonstrating his ability to handle pressure and adapt to conditions. His elegant lofted six over long-on off Will O’Rourke was one of the highlights of his innings.
However, he was dismissed for 50 in the 37th over, as he mistimed a pull shot off O’Rourke’s delivery, getting caught at covers by Will Young.
Hardik Pandya’s Late Surge Lifts India to 249/9
While Shreyas Iyer’s fifty vs New Zealand provided stability, India still needed quick runs towards the end to post a challenging total. Hardik Pandya, known for his explosive finishing, delivered a crucial late cameo that pushed India’s total close to 250.
👉 Hardik Pandya’s Key Contributions:
✔ Quickfire 35 off 23 balls
✔ 2 sixes and 3 fours
✔ Strike rate of 152.17
His aggressive approach in the final overs ensured that India had a defendable total on a sluggish Dubai pitch, setting up a challenging target for New Zealand.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Five-Wicket Haul Dismantles New Zealand
If Shreyas Iyer’s fifty vs New Zealand gave India a solid total, it was Varun Chakravarthy’s magical spell that sealed the win for the Men in Blue. Making his Champions Trophy debut, the mystery spinner produced an extraordinary performance, picking up five wickets and destroying New Zealand’s batting lineup.
👉 Varun Chakravarthy’s Fifer – Key Wickets:
✔ Will Young (Bowled) – Deceived by a sharp-turning delivery.
✔ Glenn Phillips (LBW) – Trapped plumb in front with an unplayable skidder.
✔ Michael Bracewell (Caught) – Misread the variation and edged to slip.
✔ Mitchell Santner (Stumped) – Beaten by the flight, Dhoni-esque stumping by KL Rahul.
✔ Matt Henry (Bowled) – Castled by a drifting carrom ball.
His spell completely derailed New Zealand’s chase, reducing them to 205 all out in 44.2 overs.
Kane Williamson’s Lone Battle Not Enough for New Zealand
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was the only batter to put up a fight, scoring a valiant 81 runs. However, with no significant support from the other end, the Kiwis fell short by 44 runs, handing India a comfortable victory.
👉 Final Scoreline:
- India: 249/9 (50 overs)
- New Zealand: 205 all out (44.2 overs)
- India won by 44 runs
India to Face Australia in the Semi-Final
With this win, India topped Group A and will now face Australia in the semi-finals, setting up an electrifying contest between two cricketing giants.
Key Takeaways from India vs New Zealand:
✔ Shreyas Iyer’s fifty vs New Zealand stabilized the innings after a top-order collapse.
✔ Hardik Pandya’s explosive finish provided crucial runs in the death overs.
✔ Varun Chakravarthy’s fifer shattered New Zealand’s chase.
✔ India remained unbeaten in the group stage.
✔ India to face Australia in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Conclusion
Shreyas Iyer’s fifty vs New Zealand, Hardik Pandya’s late heroics, and Varun Chakravarthy’s stunning five-wicket haul ensured that India maintained their unbeaten record and marched into the semi-finals with momentum on their side.
With a highly anticipated clash against Australia ahead, the Men in Blue will aim to carry this winning momentum and edge closer to their Champions Trophy dream.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign!
