IND vs NZ: The highly anticipated final of the Champions Trophy 2025 between India and New Zealand kicked off with an exciting start at the Dubai International Stadium. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. Given the pressure of a final, it was a crucial decision, as setting a challenging target in such high-stakes matches often gives the batting team an upper hand.
New Zealand’s openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra walked onto the field with confidence and immediately took on the Indian fast bowlers. Their aggressive approach paid off as they put up 50 runs in just 7 overs, giving New Zealand an explosive start.
Kiwi Openers Dominate the Indian Pacers
Right from the beginning, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra showcased their intent. They played attacking shots against India’s fast bowlers, including Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who struggled to find early breakthroughs. The opening partnership frustrated the Indian bowlers, as the pitch seemed to favor the batters in the initial overs.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma quickly realized that the pacers were not able to break through, and he decided to introduce spin into the attack. The move was aimed at slowing down the scoring rate and creating wicket-taking opportunities.
Varun Chakravarthy Strikes in the 8th Over
The decision to bring in the spinners worked almost instantly. Varun Chakravarthy, India’s mystery spinner, was handed the ball in the 8th over, and he made an immediate impact. On his very first delivery, he managed to dismiss Will Young, trapping him LBW (Leg Before Wicket).
Young’s dismissal was a much-needed breakthrough for India, as the Kiwi openers looked set for a big partnership. The Indian fans in the stadium erupted in cheers, knowing how crucial this wicket was in shifting the momentum of the game.
Rachin Ravindra Survives Two Close Calls
Despite Young’s dismissal, his partner Rachin Ravindra continued to play aggressively. However, he was extremely lucky to survive two major chances that could have sent him back to the pavilion.
Shami Drops a Crucial Catch
The first opportunity came in the 7th over, when Rachin Ravindra mistimed a shot straight towards Mohammed Shami in his follow-through. It was a golden chance for India, as Ravindra had just started to look dangerous. Shami attempted to grab the ball with both hands, but unfortunately, the ball slipped through his fingers, hitting his hand painfully.
As soon as the catch was dropped, Rohit Sharma looked visibly frustrated, knowing how important this wicket was. Meanwhile, Shami appeared to be in discomfort after the ball struck his fingers, but he continued to bowl. The big question now was: Will this dropped catch prove costly for India?
Another Missed Catch by Shreyas Iyer
The second missed opportunity came in the very next over, bowled by Varun Chakravarthy. His first ball was a wide, which he had to rebowl. On the corrected delivery, Ravindra attempted a slog-sweep but misjudged the shot, resulting in a top-edge.
The ball flew towards Shreyas Iyer, who ran 21 meters towards his right in an attempt to take the catch. Despite his full commitment, diving effort, and stretching both hands, he couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it dropped onto the ground. It was an extremely tough chance, but had it been taken, India could have been in a stronger position early on.
Impact of the Missed Catches
Dropped catches are often the turning points in high-pressure games, especially in a final. The two missed opportunities by India gave Rachin Ravindra a chance to continue his innings, which could prove to be game-changing.
- Mohammed Shami’s drop in the 7th over meant that India missed out on an early breakthrough.
- Shreyas Iyer’s miss in the 8th over denied Varun Chakravarthy a second wicket in the same over.
With these let-offs, New Zealand’s batting lineup gained an added advantage, and India’s bowlers were under pressure to strike again.
India’s Bowling Strategy: Spin vs Pace
India’s bowling strategy has been a key talking point in this tournament. While the fast bowlers were expected to dominate early on, the conditions in Dubai seemed to favor spinners as the match progressed.
- Fast bowlers: Despite an early struggle, Bumrah and Shami were expected to return in the middle and death overs to restrict New Zealand.
- Spinners: Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja were going to play a vital role in the middle overs, trying to take wickets and slow down the run rate.
With the first breakthrough coming from Varun Chakravarthy, the Indian team was hopeful that more wickets would follow soon.
What’s Next? Will India Regret the Missed Chances?
As the match progressed, all eyes were on Rachin Ravindra, who was now playing with extra confidence after getting two lifelines. The real question was: Will these missed catches haunt India later in the match?
- If Ravindra scores big, the missed catches by Shami and Shreyas Iyer could prove extremely costly for India.
- If India’s bowlers strike back, these moments might be forgotten, and India could regain control of the match.
The Champions Trophy 2025 final has already provided plenty of drama in the first few overs. New Zealand started aggressively, putting pressure on India’s bowlers. India, however, managed to pull things back with Varun Chakravarthy’s breakthrough.
However, the two dropped catches remain a crucial talking point. In high-pressure finals, small moments like these can decide the fate of the match. With both teams fighting hard, the next few overs will be critical in determining the direction of the game.
Can India bounce back with more wickets, or will New Zealand capitalize on their strong start? The battle for the Champions Trophy 2025 has truly begun!
