India Defeats New Zealand by 44 Runs to Secure ICC Champions Trophy Semifinal Spot
Dubai, March 2, 2025 – India showcased a dominant performance in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match, securing a 44-run victory over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. With this win, India sealed their place in the semifinals, where they will face Australia.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India put up a competitive total of 249/9 in 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer played a pivotal role, anchoring the innings with a crucial 79 runs. Axar Patel contributed a quickfire 42, helping India reach a defendable target. New Zealand’s Matt Henry was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 5/42.
In response, New Zealand struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Skipper Kane Williamson led from the front with a fighting 81, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the game-changer, picking up five wickets for just 42 runs. New Zealand was eventually bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs.
With this victory, India finished at the top of Group A and will now gear up for a high-stakes semifinal against Australia. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s campaign comes to an end after failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Stay tuned for more updates from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025!