Dubai: Varun Chakravarthy took a five-wicket haul as the Indian cricket team set up a semi-final against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 with a victory against New Zealand in their final group game on Sunday (2 March) in Dubai. New Zealand will face Group B toppers South Africa in the second semi-final.
Team India finished on top of Group A with six points and a 44-run victory over New Zealand. As a result, they will be playing the first semi-final against the second-placed side in Group B – Australia.
Chasing a 250-run target, the Blackcaps were bundled out for 205. Kuldeep Yadav accounted for two wickets while Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja scalped one each.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer scored a crucial 79 along with Hardik Pandya’s 45 and Axar Patel’s 42 to help India post 249 for 9 after getting an invitation to bat. India lost quick wickets with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli going back with only 30 runs on the board.
However, Shreyas Iyer’s 98-run partnership with Axar Patel helped them bounce back. For the Blackcaps, Matt Henry was the star bowler as he claimed a five-wicket haul (5 for 42).
The first semi-final between India and Australia will take place on 4 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 5 March.
