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India to Face Australia in Champions Trophy Semifinal as Varun Chakaravarthy Stars Against New Zealand
India Secures Semifinal Spot with a Dominant Win Over New Zealand
In a high-stakes encounter at the Champions Trophy, India sealed their place in the semifinals by defeating New Zealand by 44 runs. The victory was powered by an exceptional five-wicket haul from Varun Chakaravarthy, who played a pivotal role in dismantling the Kiwi batting lineup. India will now face Australia in the next stage, while New Zealand will take on South Africa in Lahore.
India’s Strategic Spin Attack Strangles New Zealand
Varun Chakaravarthy’s Five-Fer Turns the Game
India’s decision to field a spin-heavy attack on the dry and gripping Dubai pitch proved to be a masterstroke. Varun Chakaravarthy, included in place of Harshit Rana, led the charge with his career-best ODI figures of 5 for 42.
The New Zealand batters struggled to read Varun’s variations, leading to multiple dismissals. Will Young inside-edged onto his stumps, while Daryl Mitchell, who had previously excelled against India, was unable to find his rhythm and fell to Kuldeep Yadav. Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, and Michael Bracewell also succumbed to spin, as India’s bowlers consistently targeted the stumps.
At the other end, Kane Williamson fought hard with an 81-run knock but was eventually stumped off Axar Patel, ending New Zealand’s resistance. Despite a few dropped chances, including two missed catches by KL Rahul, India’s relentless spin attack ensured a comfortable victory.
New Zealand’s Bowling Resurgence Led by Matt Henry
Early Strikes Leave India Reeling
Winning the toss and opting to chase, New Zealand’s fast bowler Matt Henry delivered a sensational spell, claiming 5 for 42 and reducing India to 30 for 3 early in the innings. His early victims included:
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Shubman Gill – Trapped LBW while shuffling across the crease.
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Virat Kohli – Caught brilliantly by Glenn Phillips at backward point.
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Rohit Sharma – Mistimed a pull shot straight to mid-wicket.
This collapse mirrored India’s infamous World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand in 2019 when they struggled in similar conditions.
Middle-Order Revival by Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel
India found stability through a crucial 98-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel. The duo showed resilience, absorbing pressure and rotating the strike efficiently. Iyer’s confident strokeplay, including well-placed boundaries against William O’Rourke, saw him notch up yet another half-century against New Zealand.
Axar Patel, despite a slow start, found his touch against the spinners, playing elegant sweeps and cuts. However, just when India seemed to gain momentum, Axar fell for 42, triggering another collapse.
Hardik Pandya’s Late-Order Heroics
Hardik Pandya stepped up with a valuable 45-run knock, guiding India past the 240-run mark. His partnerships with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja ensured India had a competitive total to defend. Despite Matt Henry’s final-over heroics, where he picked up two more wickets to complete his five-wicket haul, India’s total of 249 proved to be enough.
Tactical Brilliance Helps India Clinch Victory
India’s Spinners Dominate
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, wasted no time introducing spin, bringing Axar Patel into the attack in the sixth over. Hardik Pandya had already provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Rachin Ravindra with a sharp short ball.
From there, India’s spinners tightened the noose, ensuring that LBW dismissals remained a key mode of attack. Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips fell to Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy, respectively. Even Michael Bracewell, who survived a review, was eventually outfoxed by Varun’s mystery spin.
Williamson’s Lone Battle in Vain
Kane Williamson, anchoring the chase, found little support from the other end. His determined innings of 120 balls was punctuated by three dropped catches, allowing him to extend New Zealand’s hopes. However, the mounting required rate forced him to take risks, leading to his eventual dismissal while attempting to attack Axar Patel.
With Williamson gone, New Zealand’s lower order crumbled, giving India a comfortable win and securing their spot in the semifinal against Australia.
Key Takeaways from the Match
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India’s spin quartet (Varun, Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Axar) picked up nine wickets, showcasing their dominance on slow surfaces.
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Varun Chakaravarthy’s five-wicket haul marked his arrival as a match-winner in ODIs.
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Shreyas Iyer continued his strong ODI form against New Zealand, scoring another fifty.
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Matt Henry’s five-wicket haul kept New Zealand in the contest despite an eventual loss.
What’s Next?
With this victory, India sets up a thrilling semifinal clash against Australia. Meanwhile, New Zealand will travel to Lahore to face South Africa in their knockout fixture. Fans can look forward to an intense battle as the tournament approaches its climax.
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To explore official Champions Trophy stats, visit the ICC Website.
