India qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-final by defeating New Zealand convincingly. The semi-final against Australia is scheduled for Tuesday in Dubai. India remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament thus far. Having played all their matches in Dubai offers India significant familiarity. Conditions at Dubai’s stadium have consistently favored spin bowling, benefiting India’s spin-heavy strategy. Australia’s strong record in ICC tournaments makes this contest particularly exciting. However, the India national team’s recent form positions them firmly to challenge Australia’s experienced lineup.
New Zealand travels urgently from Dubai to Lahore for Wednesday’s semi-final clash. Their tight schedule leaves minimal time for recovery and adequate preparation. Both teams faced disruptions due to complicated travel logistics involving Dubai. Despite these scheduling setbacks, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner remains confident. New Zealand must quickly adapt to Lahore’s conditions, which are distinct from Dubai’s pitches. Their adaptability and resilience under these circumstances could determine their tournament fate.
Scheduling Chaos Hits South Africa
South Africa initially moved to Dubai and must swiftly return to Lahore. These frequent shifts between venues have caused substantial logistical strain. Players face increased fatigue from repeated flights and limited rest periods. Disrupted training schedules could negatively impact South Africa’s preparations against New Zealand. The chaotic scheduling arose primarily because India refused to travel to Pakistan. South Africa’s ability to overcome these travel challenges will be closely observed. Their performance could reflect their adaptability amid unforeseen logistical difficulties.
Rohit Sharma Highlights Momentum
Indian captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the critical role of momentum in knockouts. He stressed the necessity of quickly identifying and correcting previous errors. Rohit acknowledged Australia’s impressive ICC history but remains positively focused. He highlighted India’s strategic clarity and strong execution throughout this tournament. Sharma expressed confidence that India’s well-rounded approach would effectively counter Australia’s strengths. The semi-final will test India’s resilience, consistency, and adaptability under pressure. Maintaining composure and capitalizing on their momentum is crucial for India’s success.
RESULT – 12th Match, Group A (D/N), Dubai International Cricket Stadium, March 02, 2025, ICC Champions Trophy
India won by 44 runs
Player Of The Match | Varun Chakravarthy (IND) for his 5/42
India (50 ovs maximum)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rohit Sharma (c)
|
c Young b Jamieson | 15 | 17 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 88.23 | ||
|
Shubman Gill
|
lbw b Henry | 2 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 | ||
|
Virat Kohli
|
c Phillips b Henry | 11 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 78.57 | ||
|
Shreyas Iyer
|
c Young b O’Rourke | 79 | 98 | 122 | 4 | 2 | 80.61 | ||
|
Axar Patel
|
c Williamson b Ravindra | 42 | 61 | 84 | 3 | 1 | 68.85 | ||
|
KL Rahul †
|
c †Latham b Santner | 23 | 29 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 79.31 | ||
|
Hardik Pandya
|
c Ravindra b Henry | 45 | 45 | 59 | 4 | 2 | 100.00 | ||
|
Ravindra Jadeja
|
c Williamson b Henry | 16 | 20 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 | ||
|
Mohammed Shami
|
c Phillips b Henry | 5 | 8 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 | ||
|
Kuldeep Yadav
|
not out | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | ||
| Extras | (b 1, w 9) | 10 | |||||||
| Total |
50 Ov (RR: 4.98)
|
249/9 | |||||||
|
Did not bat: Varun Chakravarthy
|
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Shubman Gill, 2.5 ov), 2-22 (Rohit Sharma, 5.1 ov), 3-30 (Virat Kohli, 6.4 ov), 4-128 (Axar Patel, 29.2 ov), 5-172 (Shreyas Iyer, 36.2 ov), 6-182 (KL Rahul, 39.1 ov), 7-223 (Ravindra Jadeja, 45.5 ov), 8-246 (Hardik Pandya, 49.3 ov), 9-249 (Mohammed Shami, 49.6 ov) • DRS
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Matt Henry
|
8 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 5.25 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Kyle Jamieson
|
8 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 3.87 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
|
Will O’Rourke
|
9 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 5.22 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Mitchell Santner
|
10 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 4.10 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Michael Bracewell
|
9 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 6.22 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Rachin Ravindra
|
6 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 5.16 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand (T: 250 runs from 50 ovs)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Will Young
|
b Varun | 22 | 35 | 51 | 3 | 0 | 62.85 | ||
|
Rachin Ravindra
|
c Patel b Pandya | 6 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | ||
|
Kane Williamson
|
st †Rahul b Patel | 81 | 120 | 146 | 7 | 0 | 67.50 | ||
|
Daryl Mitchell
|
lbw b Kuldeep Yadav | 17 | 35 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 48.57 | ||
|
Tom Latham †
|
lbw b Jadeja | 14 | 20 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 | ||
|
Glenn Phillips
|
lbw b Varun | 12 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 | ||
|
Michael Bracewell
|
lbw b Varun | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 | ||
|
Mitchell Santner (c)
|
b Varun | 28 | 31 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 90.32 | ||
|
Matt Henry
|
c Kohli b Varun | 2 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | ||
|
Kyle Jamieson
|
not out | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 225.00 | ||
|
Will O’Rourke
|
b Kuldeep Yadav | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | ||
| Extras | (lb 2, nb 1, w 8) | 11 | |||||||
| Total |
45.3 Ov (RR: 4.50)
|
205 | |||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Rachin Ravindra, 3.6 ov), 2-49 (Will Young, 11.3 ov), 3-93 (Daryl Mitchell, 25.1 ov), 4-133 (Tom Latham, 32.2 ov), 5-151 (Glenn Phillips, 35.4 ov), 6-159 (Michael Bracewell, 37.1 ov), 7-169 (Kane Williamson, 40.6 ov), 8-195 (Mitchell Santner, 44.2 ov), 9-196 (Matt Henry, 44.4 ov), 10-205 (Will O’Rourke, 45.3 ov) • DRS
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mohammed Shami
|
4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Hardik Pandya
|
4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
|
Axar Patel
|
10 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 3.20 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Varun Chakravarthy
|
10 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 4.20 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Kuldeep Yadav
|
9.3 | 0 | 56 | 2 | 5.89 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Ravindra Jadeja
|
8 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 4.50 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Match Analysis
| Time | Event Description | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1:57 PM | Pitch Report | Dry pitch and uneven boundaries favor spin bowling. |
| 2:41 PM | Gill dismissed early | Henry traps Gill LBW (India 15/1, 2.5 overs) |
| 2:57 pm | Rohit Sharma departs | Rohit Sharma caught pulling Jamieson, 15 off 17 |
| 3:09 pm | Phillips’ stunning catch dismisses Kohli | Phillips takes an exceptional catch; India is struggling |
| 4:18 pm | Spin dominates play | India’s score: 117/3 after 27 overs (Spinners dominant) |
| 4:21 pm | Fifty for Shreyas Iyer | Slow track: Iyer reaches 50 off 77 balls |
| 4:24 pm | Axar Patel was dismissed after fighting innings | Axar Patel top-edges to Williamson; 118/4 |
| 4:41 pm | Iyer falls for well-made innings | Shreyas Iyer out pulling short delivery; 172/5 |
| 4:41 pm | KL Rahul caught behind off Santner | Rahul departs for 23; excellent catch by Latham |
| 5:41 pm | Hardik Pandya boosts India’s late innings | Pandya hits quick 45; India reaches competitive 249 |
| 6:02 pm | Matt Henry claims five-for | Henry finishes with figures of 5 wickets |
| 6:42 pm | Shami’s shoulder injury concern | Shami hurt while fielding; a medical check was required |
India Innings
| Time | Event Description | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 7:20 pm | Varun Chakravarthy’s wrong’un gets Will Young | Varun deceives Young; NZ 49/2 in 11 overs |
| 7:43 pm | Varun Chakravarthy’s impressive bowling continues | NZ is unfamiliar with Varun; 77 is needed off 39 balls faced before |
| 8:06 pm | Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Mitchell | Kuldeep traps Mitchell LBW; NZ struggling at 93/3 |
| 8:15 pm | Williamson reaches gritty half-century | Williamson reaches 50 off 77 balls; NZ 136 runs needed |
| 8:41 pm | Latham falls to Jadeja’s spin | Latham out LBW on reverse-sweep; NZ 133/4 |
| 8:57 pm | Williamson dropped again | Williamson gets second life at 68; the match is delicately poised |
| 9:03 pm | Chakravarthy dismissed Phillips | Phillips LBW for 151 runs on board |
| 9:08 pm | Bracewell dismissal boosts India’s chances | Bracewell mistakenly doesn’t review Varun’s LBW; NZ 159/6 |
| 9:21 pm | Axar Patel seals the match with Williamson’s wicket | Williamson’s hard-fought 81 off 120 ends; NZ need 81 runs |
| 9:35 pm | Varun Chakravarthy completes five-for | Santner bowled; NZ innings collapsed rapidly |
| 9:41 pm | India wins comprehensively by 44 runs | Kuldeep Yadav wraps up the innings; NZ 205 all-out |
| 9:44 pm | Semi-final confirmation | India vs. Australia; New Zealand vs. South Africa confirmed |
Conclusion
India secured the top spot in their group with a clinical 44-run victory over New Zealand. On Tuesday, this win sets up a crucial semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai. New Zealand, meanwhile, will head back to Lahore to face South Africa on Wednesday.
It was a classic ODI dominated by India’s spin bowling. Varun Chakravarthy, returning to the venue of a disappointing performance against Pakistan in 2021, redeemed himself spectacularly with a match-winning five-wicket haul. India’s spinners delivered 37.3 overs, conceding only 166 runs and taking nine wickets. Their spin dominance restricted New Zealand, particularly during the middle overs. This kind of competitive cricket inspires youngsters, especially women cricketers – which is visible in the WPL performances of Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians.
Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson initially rattled India, reducing them to 30 for 3 early. Glenn Phillips’ remarkable catch to dismiss Virat Kohli added to New Zealand’s strong start. However, India’s disciplined spin attack eventually overwhelmed New Zealand, securing a comfortable 44-run victory and maintaining their unbeaten streak.
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