The Dubai International Cricket Stadium had not been a happy hunting ground for Varun Chakaravarthy in the past. His last outing at the venue during the 2021 T20 World Cup was far from memorable, as he remained wicketless across three games. However, four years later, the 2025 version of Varun is a vastly improved cricketer—sharper, smarter, and more confident.

On Sunday, against New Zealand, the Tamil Nadu spinner shrugged off a nervous start, where he dropped a sitter off a Free Hit, to produce a match-winning five-wicket haul (10-0-42-5). His spell helped India secure a convincing 44-run victory, ensuring they finished on top of Group A in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The win also set up a mouth-watering semifinal clash against Australia on Tuesday.

India’s Top-Order Stumbles but Middle-Order Steadies the Ship
After being put in to bat, India’s top-order struggled for the first time in the tournament. New Zealand’s pace attack, led by Matt Henry, made early inroads, reducing India to 30 for 3 within the first 10 overs.

The first to fall was Rohit Sharma, who mistimed a drive to cover off Henry. His opening partner, Shubman Gill, followed soon after, nicking one behind to the wicketkeeper. The biggest blow came when Virat Kohli, playing in his 300th ODI, perished for just 11. Looking to cut Henry past backward point, Kohli was left stunned as Glenn Phillips pulled off a breathtaking one-handed catch, diving full stretch to his right.

At 30 for 3, the Men in Blue were in deep trouble, and a substantial recovery was required.

Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel Lead India’s Fightback
With early wickets lost, India needed stability, and Shreyas Iyer (79 off 105 balls) provided exactly that. He found an able partner in Axar Patel (42 off 62 balls), and together, they stitched a crucial 98-run stand for the fourth wicket.

The duo initially played with caution, rotating the strike and waiting for loose deliveries. Axar Patel, known for his ability to play spin well, took charge against New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, sweeping him for a boundary to break the shackles.

Shreyas, on the other hand, found his rhythm against pace, smashing Will O’Rourke for three consecutive boundaries in the 24th over—two well-placed pull shots followed by a lofted cover drive that raced to the fence. His innings featured some exquisite stroke play, including a couple of sixes once he reached his half-century.

Just when it looked like India would push towards a 270+ total, the Kiwis struck back. Axar, after a well-composed knock, was dismissed while attempting a big shot against Santner.

Hardik Pandya’s Late Flourish Takes India to 249
After the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer, India faced another mini-collapse, slipping to 182 for 6. However, Hardik Pandya (45 off 38 balls) ensured that the team finished with a competitive total.

Hardik played with controlled aggression, mixing calculated boundaries with smart singles. His powerful hitting came in the final 10 overs, where he took on Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult, smashing two sixes and a couple of boundaries. His late flourish pushed India to 249 for 9, a total that initially seemed underwhelming but ultimately proved more than enough.

Varun Chakaravarthy Spins a Web Around New Zealand
Chasing 250 for victory, New Zealand never found momentum against India’s well-balanced bowling attack. Though Kane Williamson (81 off 120 balls) stood firm at one end, the rest of the Kiwi batters struggled against India’s spin quartet.

The breakthrough came early, thanks to Hardik Pandya, who dismissed Rachin Ravindra (17), inducing a false shot that was caught at third man. From there, Varun Chakaravarthy took over the game, producing a mesmerizing spell of spin bowling.

Varun’s first wicket came when Will Young misjudged a delivery and dragged it back onto his stumps. He then trapped Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell LBW in consecutive overs, both misreading his deceptive googlies.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja kept things tight from the other end. Kuldeep sent back Daryl Mitchell, while Jadeja got the better of Tom Latham, reducing the Kiwis to 159 for 6.

The biggest moment of the match came when Axar Patel dismissed Kane Williamson, stumping him off a flighted delivery. Once Williamson departed, the result was inevitable. Varun returned to clean up the lower order, completing his maiden five-wicket haul in just his second ODI.

A Statement Victory Before the Semifinals
With this dominant win, India finished the group stage unbeaten, sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament. The victory sets up a high-voltage semifinal clash against Australia, a matchup that will surely be one of the most anticipated encounters of the tournament.

Key Takeaways from the Match:
~ Varun Chakaravarthy’s magical spell (10-0-42-5) was the turning point of the game.
~ Shreyas Iyer’s solid 79 provided much-needed stability after the top-order collapse.
~ Hardik Pandya’s late surge (45 off 38) ensured India reached a competitive total.
~ India’s four-pronged spin attack dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup.
~ India remains unbeaten in the tournament and will face Australia in the semifinals.

As the Men in Blue gear up for the next challenge, all eyes will be on the semifinal showdown against Australia on Tuesday. Can India continue their winning streak and march into the finals? Cricket fans around the world are eagerly waiting to find out.

Author: Ronak Rehal