IND Win By 44 Runs | India vs New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Varun Chakaravarthy, Shreyas Iyer Star as Men in Blue Top Group A

India have beaten New Zealand by 44 runs! They have now finished Group A undefeated and will take on Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals on March 4.  New Zealand will take on South Africa in the second semi-final on March 5. What an emphatic performance it has been from India who have been powered to a win by their spinners. Earlier, Shreyas Iyer scored a fighting 79 while Hardik Pandya (45) and Axar Patel (42) made important contributions as India posted 249/9 after being asked to bat first. In response, the spinners took centre stage and it was Varun Chakaravarthy (5/42), who stood out with his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. Making his ICC Champions Trophy debut, the mystery spinner rattled the New Zealand batters by spinning a web around them and hardly giving them any opportunity to score. Apart from Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav took two while Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel scalped one. For New Zealand, Kane Williamson fought hard with 81 but he could not get going. Check ICC Champions Trophy 2025 points table here.

OUT! Five wickets for Varun Chakaravarthy, who continues to impress! This time, Matt Henry went for a big shot but Virat Kohli did well to take the catch. India one wicket away now. Matt Henry c Virat Kohli b Varun Chakaravarthy 2(4)

OUT! Varun Chakaravarthy has his fourth wicket of the game and he has castled Mitchell Santner! The New Zealand captain was totally beaten by that delivery which crashed into the off-stump. India are close to winning this one. Mitchell Santner b Varun Chakravarthy 28(31)

Mitchell Santner is keeping the fight on for New Zealand with some aggressive shots off the spinners. As long as he is there, New Zealand will still believe they can get past the finish line but tackling the Indian spinners has been tough on this track. New Zealand need 57 runs off 36 balls now.

OUT! Axar Patel has struck with the last ball of his spell today and has picked the big wicket of Kane Williamson! The right-hander danced downt the track but missed the ball with KL Rahul completing the stumping. India are on top here and New Zealand's woes continue. Kane Williamson st KL Rahul b Axar Patel 81(120)

The Indian spinners have done a terrific job in putting pressure on New Zealand here. The equation has been brought down to 85 runs needed off 60 balls and for New Zealand to get it, Kane Williamson has to be the man who has scored an unbeaten 79 off 117 balls.

The Indian spinners have done a terrific job in putting pressure on New Zealand here. The equation has been brought down to 85 runs needed off 60 balls and for New Zealand to get it, Kane Williamson has to be the man who has scored an unbeaten 79 off 117 balls.

OUT! Varun Chakaravarthy has a third wicket and this time, his victim is Michael Bracewell who has been trapped in front. The mystery spinner is more than justifying his selection with this superb performance! New Zealand in a massive trouble here. Michael Bracewell lbw b Varun Chakaravarthy 2(3)

OUT! Varun Chakaravarthy has trapped Glenn Phillips LBW plumb in front! The mystery spinner was hit for a six the last ball but this time, trapped the right-hander right in front and the umpire did not hesitate much to raise his finger. Glenn Phillips lbw b Varun Chakaravarthy 12(8)

OUT! India have a big wicket and it is that of Tom Latham! The left-hander was trapped right in front while attempting a reverse sweep and he did not bother to use DRS. India have got a wicket at a crucial stage. Tom Latham lbw b Ravindra Jadeja 14(20)