Let’s be honest — few things light up a cricket tournament like a fiery clash between two top-tier teams. The India vs New Zealand match scorecard from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is one for the books. Packed with drama, grit, and spin wizardry, this 44-run Indian victory was more than just another win—it was a message.
After the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final, India came into this tournament with a point to prove. And prove they did—on the slow, dusty pitch of Dubai, they turned the heat up with both bat and ball.
But how exactly did it unfold? Who stepped up when the chips were down? And what does this win mean as India prepares for a seismic semi-final showdown with Australia?
Let’s break down the match, moment by moment, in this full scorecard analysis and strategic deep dive.
Full Match Scorecard: India vs New Zealand – Champions Trophy 2025
Let’s kick things off with the scorecard. It tells the tale of a match where India fought back from early trouble, spun a web around New Zealand, and never looked back.
India Innings – 249/9 (50 Overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (c) | c Will Young b Jamieson | 15 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 88.24 |
| Shubman Gill | lbw b Matt Henry | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| Virat Kohli | c Phillips b Henry | 11 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 78.57 |
| Shreyas Iyer | c Young b O’Rourke | 79 | 98 | 4 | 2 | 80.61 |
| Axar Patel | c Williamson b Ravindra | 42 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 168.85 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | c Latham b Santner | 23 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 79.31 |
| Hardik Pandya | c Ravindra b Henry | 45 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 100 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | c Williamson b Henry | 16 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 80 |
| Mohammed Shami | c Phillips b Henry | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.5 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Did not bat | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | (b 1, w 9) | 10 | ||||
| Total | (9 wickets, 50 overs) | 249 |
Fall of Wickets:
Gill (15/1), Rohit (22/2), Kohli (30/3), Axar (128/4), Shreyas (172/5), Rahul (182/6), Jadeja (223/7), Hardik (246/8), Shami (249/9)
New Zealand Innings – 205 All Out (45.3 Overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | b Chakravarthy | 22 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 62.86 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c Axar b Hardik | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Kane Williamson (c) | st Rahul b Axar | 81 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 67.5 |
| Daryl Mitchell | lbw b Kuldeep | 17 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 48.57 |
| Tom Latham (wk) | lbw b Jadeja | 14 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 70 |
| Glenn Phillips | lbw b Chakravarthy | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 150 |
| Michael Bracewell | lbw b Chakravarthy | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Mitchell Santner | b Chakravarthy | 28 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 90.32 |
| Matt Henry | c Kohli b Chakravarthy | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Kyle Jamieson | not out | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
| William O’Rourke | b Kuldeep | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 8, nb 1) | 11 | ||||
| Total | (10 wickets, 45.3 overs) | 205 |
Fall of Wickets:
17/1, 49/2, 93/3, 133/4, 151/5, 159/6, 169/7, 195/8, 196/9, 205/10
India’s Fightback: From 30/3 to 249/9 – A Tale of Resilience
When Gill, Rohit, and Kohli walked back to the pavilion with only 30 runs on the board, fans were chewing their nails. It felt like a familiar script—top-order collapse, pressure building, and a middle order that needed to step up.
But guess what? They did.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stitched together a gutsy 98-run partnership. While Shreyas anchored the innings with his smart placement and calm head, Axar turned beast mode on—his 42 off 26 balls was full of intent. He smashed three sixes that not only lifted India’s score but also the spirits of fans watching around the globe.
And don’t forget Hardik Pandya’s calm and calculated 45, which gave the innings a solid finish.
“We just wanted to bat time and back each other. Axar took the pressure off me,” Shreyas later said with a smile. That’s what teamwork looks like.
This wasn’t a flashy innings. It was a fightback. And in tournaments like the Champions Trophy, that makes all the difference.
Varun Chakravarthy: The Spin Wizard Returns with 5/42
If there’s one name every cricket fan was Googling after the match, it’s Varun Chakravarthy.
Remember the 2021 World Cup? Chakravarthy was criticized for being ineffective. But four years later, the mystery spinner finally had his day.
With 5 wickets for just 42 runs, he absolutely dismantled New Zealand’s middle and lower order. Whether it was his deceptive flight, his googlies, or his calm demeanor, everything clicked.
He didn’t do it alone. India’s spin trio—Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav (2 wickets), and Jadeja (1 wicket)—made life miserable for the Kiwis. They exploited the dusty Dubai pitch perfectly.
Fun fact: This was the most wickets ever taken by Indian spinners in a single Champions Trophy match. That’s historic.
“I found out I was playing only the night before. Honestly, I was nervous,” Chakravarthy admitted post-match. Well, that nervousness turned into magic.
Kane Williamson’s Lone Stand: Fighting a Losing Battle
Let’s not ignore New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson, who tried—really tried—to save the sinking ship. His 81-run knock was patient, classy, and full of intent.
He rotated strike smartly and tried to hold the innings together while wickets tumbled at the other end. But what’s a captain without an army?
Williamson was let down by his fellow batters—only Santner and Young showed any resistance. Once again, it felt like Kane was doing it all himself.
The turning point? Chakravarthy dismissed Phillips, Bracewell, Santner, and Henry in quick succession. From 151/5 to 205 all out—it was a collapse no team recovers from.
Game-Changing Stats and Records You Don’t Want to Miss
Let’s sprinkle in some spicy stats from this clash:
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Varun Chakravarthy’s 5/42: Best bowling figures on Champions Trophy debut by an Indian.
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First Time in CT History: Two Indian bowlers (Shami and Chakravarthy) with 5-fors in the same tournament.
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India’s spinners took 9 wickets – a record for most wickets by spinners in one CT innings.
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Hardik Pandya’s 45 off 45 – clutch innings when it mattered most.
This wasn’t just another group-stage match. This was record-breaking stuff.
Post-Match Reactions: Confidence, Calm, and Caution
Rohit Sharma (India Captain):
“You want to win matches going into knockouts. This win means a lot. The spinners did the job and our middle order showed character.”
Mitch Santner (New Zealand Captain):
“Tough one. We didn’t adapt to the pitch like India did. Spin was always going to be a threat. We’ll regroup for South Africa.”
Varun Chakravarthy (Player of the Match):
“I just focused on landing the ball in the right areas. The wicket helped a bit, but I backed myself.”
Professional, humble, and effective—the kind of post-match talk Indian fans have been longing to hear.
Next Up: India vs Australia – The Clash Everyone’s Waiting For
Okay, deep breath. The India vs Australia semi-final is here.
This is no ordinary match. It’s the first ODI between the two giants since that brutal World Cup final loss in November 2023. Fans still talk about it like it was yesterday. You can bet the players haven’t forgotten either.
“Time to turn heartbreak into dominance,” said a tweet from BCCI right after the win against New Zealand. Enough said.
Here’s the situation:
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Australia has been ruthless in this tournament.
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India is finding form at the perfect time.
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The pitch might favor pace, not spin, so the tactics could change.
Can India bring the same energy and discipline to a completely different surface? Will Rohit and company learn from past mistakes?
Let’s just say—get your popcorn ready.
Final Thoughts: Spin, Grit, and the Indian Comeback
This India vs New Zealand match scorecard is more than just numbers—it’s a story of redemption, strategy, and timing.
From a rough start at 30/3 to a dominant 44-run victory, India showed that good cricket is about more than just star power. It’s about partnerships, patience, and planning.
For New Zealand, it’s back to the drawing board. For India, it’s a chance to rewrite recent history—with Australia waiting, hungry, and dangerous.
But something feels different this time. Chakravarthy is spinning fire, the middle order is stepping up, and the belief is back.
India fans, dare we say it?
Bring on the Aussies.
