India lost their 15th consecutive ODI toss, but it did not prevent them from asserting themselves and restricting New Zealand to 251 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. The Kiwis began and ended their innings in a positive mode of batting but were unable to gain momentum in the face of India’s clinical spin bowling attack.
Daryl Mitchell Battles On as India’s Spinners Take Over
Daryl Mitchell tried to resist the pressure of India’s spin quartet with a gritty 101-ball 63. India’s spinners controlled the game, however, reeling New Zealand back after their aggressive powerplay beginning. The slow pitch helped India’s strategy, with spinners bowling with tight lines, making it hard for the BlackCaps to score.
New Zealand had a strong start with Rachin Ravindra leading the charge. The tournament’s leading run-scorer played elegant shots against pacers, flicking Mohammed Shami beautifully and taking 16 runs off a Hardik Pandya over. In response, India turned to spin earlier than in any previous match of the tournament.
Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy Turn the Game
Varun Chakaravarthy started with a googly for four byes but soon built the breakthrough. He LBWed Will Young while trying a flick, ending a 58-run partnership for the opening pair. On the other side, Ravindra continued to pose danger, reaching 37 off 69 balls in the first 10 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav then turned the game around in an instant. His first ball, a wrong ‘un, went past Ravindra’s dab, getting rid of the well-set batter. In his second over, Kuldeep got the better of Kane Williamson in the air and grabbed a simple return catch. From 75/3, New Zealand had to ease off to prevent further harm.
Middle Overs Pressure by India’s Spinners
Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell went for a conservative strategy as India’s spinners tightened their hold. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel maintained a tight line, not giving any free runs. India’s spinners together bowled within the stumps for 37% of their overs, raising the risk for New Zealand batsmen.
Latham and Mitchell added cautiously 33 in 66 balls, scoring only one boundary when Latham was trapped LBW by Jadeja. Mitchell added 57 runs with Glenn Phillips, who scored 34. Both the batters escaped dropped chances but Phillips was caught out by another telling Chakaravarthy googly.
Bracewell’s Late Flourish Takes New Zealand Past 250
Mitchell scored a gritty fifty and changed gears with Michael Bracewell. Their 45-run partnership contributed worthy runs before Mitchell chipped a catch to cover off Shami. Bracewell continued to be aggressive and played intelligently against India’s pacers in the death overs. He scored his fifty in the last over and took New Zealand past the 250-mark, with 35 runs coming during the last three overs.
After a good beginning, New Zealand’s middle-order collapsed in the middle overs in the face of India’s spinners. Having posted 251/7, the Kiwis left their bowlers the task of defending the score in the all-important final.
