Dubai: A stellar bowling performance from Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja helped India restrict New Zealand to 251 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2024-25 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.

After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bat first but struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. In the first innings, the Kiwis managed to set a target of 252 runs for India while losing 7 wickets.

New Zealand made a steady start before India’s spinners took control, claiming five key wickets while collectively bowling 38 overs. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy picked up two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with one.

Half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls) helped New Zealand recover, adding 79 runs in the last 10 overs to push their total past 250.

India’s pace duo Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya found some early movement, restricting openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra to just one boundary in the first three overs. However, Ravindra soon broke free, pulling and square-driving Pandya for two fours and a six in a 16-run over. He then whipped Shami for four and edged another boundary through third man.

Ravindra had a stroke of luck when Shami dropped a caught-and-bowled chance on 28, followed by Shreyas Iyer spilling his catch at deep square leg on 29. Despite these reprieves, India finally got the breakthrough when Chakaravarthy trapped Young lbw for 15. Soon after, Kuldeep bowled Ravindra with a superb googly for 37, reducing New Zealand to 69/2 at the end of the first powerplay.

Kuldeep struck again in his next over, taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Kane Williamson cheaply, putting India firmly in control. The spin quartet kept the pressure on, and in a bid to break free, Tom Latham attempted a sweep but was trapped lbw by Jadeja for 14.

New Zealand endured a boundary drought of 81 balls before Glenn Phillips finally cleared Kuldeep for a six downtown. Despite India's tight grip, Phillips managed two more boundaries. The Blackcaps also benefited from dropped chances, with Rohit Sharma missing a tough mid-wicket catch off Axar Patel when Mitchell was on 38, and Shubman Gill dropping Phillips on 27.

The 57-run stand between Phillips and Mitchell was broken when Chakaravarthy’s googly cleaned up Phillips for 34. Mitchell continued grinding, bringing up his slowest career fifty in 91 balls. Bracewell ended another 65-ball boundary drought by sweeping Kuldeep for four and later heaving Shami for six.

Mitchell then took on Shami, hitting two boundaries before lofting a catch to extra cover, departing for 63. Bracewell, however, continued the late surge, hammering Pandya for a six, while captain Mitchell Santner fell for 8, run out while attempting a second run. Bracewell brought up his fifty in just 39 balls, ensuring New Zealand crossed 250, with 12 runs coming off the final over.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 251/7 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 53 not out*; Kuldeep Yadav 2/40, Varun Chakaravarthy 2/45)* vs India. (With Agency Inputs)