Champions Trophy: Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy shine as India beat New Zealand to set up semifinal with Australia

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In a crucial Group A match, India secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s crucial 79-run innings and Varun Chakravarthy’s 5/42 bowling performance. This win positions India at the top of the table and sets up a semifinal clash with Australia. Chasing 250, New Zealand’s strong batting lineup struggled against India’s spin-heavy attack, with Chakravarthy leading the charge. His relentless accuracy and variations dismantled the Blackcaps, bowling them out for 205 in 45.3 overs.

NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s composed 79 off 98 balls and Varun Chakravarthy’s outstanding 5/42 powered India to a 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A match on Sunday, securing their place at the top of the table and setting up a semifinal showdown with Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Despite Iyer’s resilient knock under pressure, New Zealand pacer Matt Henry (5/42) restricted India to 249/9 in 50 overs.

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Chasing 250, New Zealand’s strong batting lineup struggled against India’s spin-heavy attack, with Chakravarthy leading the charge. His relentless accuracy and variations dismantled the Blackcaps, bowling them out for 205 in 45.3 overs. Kane Williamson put up a valiant fight with a well-compiled 81, but his efforts were in vain.

With this result, India will face Group B runners-up Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday in Dubai, while New Zealand will take on South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.

India’s spinners continued their tournament-long strategy of effectiveness over extravagance, adjusting their approach to suit the conditions. While Ravindra Jadeja extracted significant turn, it was Chakravarthy’s stump-to-stump line that proved to be the most potent weapon against New Zealand’s batters.

Hardik Pandya gave India an early breakthrough, dismissing Rachin Ravindra. From there, India’s spinners took charge.

Williamson, who was dropped on 17 by KL Rahul off Axar Patel, played a well-calculated innings built on timing and placement. However, he lacked support from his teammates. His 44-run stand with Daryl Mitchell for the third wicket briefly steadied New Zealand, but Kuldeep Yadav broke the partnership by trapping Mitchell lbw.

The dismissals of Tom Latham (14), Glenn Phillips (12), and Michael Bracewell (2) in quick succession put further pressure on Williamson. Despite that, the New Zealand captain displayed his class with crisp stroke play, including two elegant cover drives off Jadeja.

However, his resistance came to an end when Axar Patel angled a fuller delivery past him, and Rahul completed a sharp stumping. With Williamson gone, India had the game firmly in their grasp.

Earlier, India’s innings was built on Iyer’s responsible knock, a crucial 98-run partnership with Axar Patel (42 off 61), and a late flourish from Hardik Pandya (45 off 45).

Unlike recent games where the top order provided a solid foundation, Iyer had to anchor the innings from the start after India suffered an early collapse, slipping to 30/3. He reached his half-century in 75 balls, lofting Rachin Ravindra for a six over long-on, while Axar offered steady support at the other end.

Axar’s dismissal came against the run of play when he attempted a scoop off Ravindra, only to find Williamson. Iyer, aiming for a big score, fell short of a century, mistiming a pull shot off Will O’Rourke that was caught by Will Young.

Batting at No. 6, KL Rahul contributed 23 off 29 balls, including a stunning six over long-on off Ravindra. However, his promising innings was cut short by a sharp catch from Latham off Mitchell Santner, who delivered another tidy spell with his well-disguised slower deliveries.

Though wickets at regular intervals disrupted India’s momentum, Hardik provided the late push with aggressive stroke play, propelling India close to the 250-run mark.

The innings had started on a shaky note, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli departing early, leaving India in trouble at 30/3. However, Iyer’s steady hand and the contributions from Axar and Hardik ensured India posted a competitive total—one that proved enough for their spinners to dismantle New Zealand and secure victory.

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