India Clinches Champions Trophy defeating New Zealand!

Dubai: India triumphed over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final, successfully chasing down a target of 252 runs and winning the title with a total of 254 runs for the loss of six wickets. The final scores were New Zealand: 251/7, India: 254/6 (49 overs).

Strong Start for India

Captain Rohit Sharma led the charge with a solid 76 runs off 83 balls. Shubman Gill contributed 31 runs off 50 balls. The Indian openers established a strong foundation with a 100-run partnership in just 17 overs. However, the partnership was broken in the 18th over by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. It was when Gill was dismissed after a spectacular catch by all-rounder Glenn Phillips. Virat Kohli also fell quickly, scoring only 1 run from 2 balls, as Michael Bracewell took his wicket. During this phase, India lost both Rohit Sharma and another wicket for just 16 more runs. Also with Rohit being dismissed by Rachin Ravindra as he attempted to advance down the crease.

Following these early losses, India found itself in a difficult position similar to New Zealand’s earlier struggle. Shreyas Iyer scored 48 runs off 62 balls, and Axar Patel with 29 runs off 40 balls. Their performance steadied the innings, adding 61 runs together. Iyer eventually fell victim to a catch taken by Rachin Ravindra off Mitchell Santner’s bowling. As India reached 203 runs, Axar Patel tried to clear the boundary but was caught off Michael Bracewell’s bowling. Hardik Pandya also departed when the score stood at 241 runs. He and KL Rahul managed to add 38 runs for the sixth wicket. Ultimately, KL Rahul scored 34 runs off 33 balls and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with 9 runs off 6 balls to help secure an easy Champions Trophy victory for India.

New Zealand’s Innings

New Zealand, having won the toss and chosen to bat, set a total of 251 runs for the Indian bowlers to chase down. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 63 runs off 101 balls, while Michael Bracewell contributed 53 runs off 40 balls. For India, bowlers Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets each, and both Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy struck first for India, dismissing opener Will Young (15 runs off 23 balls) lbw in the eighth over. The Kiwis had managed a 57-run partnership for the first wicket. But they struggled to maintain momentum. In a crucial phase, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed both Rachin Ravindra (37 runs off 29 balls) and Kane Williamson (14 runs off 11 balls) within an 18-run span. After crossing the 100-run mark in 19.2 overs, Tom Latham (14 runs off 30 balls) was dismissed lbw by Ravindra Jadeja. It was then followed by Glenn Phillips (34 runs off 52 balls) falling to Varun Chakravarthy.

As the innings progressed, New Zealand reached 200 runs in the 45th over. Daryl Mitchell had played cautiously to achieve his half-century. It was eventually caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Mohammed Shami. Mitchell’s partnership with Michael Bracewell reached 46 runs for the sixth wicket. Mitchell completed his fifty off 91 balls, hitting only one boundary. In the 49th over, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner (8 runs off 10 balls) was run out. It concluded their innings.