New Zealand set India a victory target of 252 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Daryl Mitchell made 63 and Michael Bracewell contributed an unbeaten 53 down the order to help New Zealand post a competitive 251-7 after electing to bat.
India's four-pronged spin attack kept the run rate in check but they did not get enough support from the fielders, who dropped four catches. India beat New Zealand in a group match and are unbeaten in the tournament.
For India, leggie Kuldeep Yadav was the best performer as he dismissed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra with a brilliant delivery. He joined forces with Varun Chakravarthy to reduce New Zealand to 135 for 4 after 30 overs.
The left-arm wrist spinner (2/40) then removed Kane Williamson (11 off 14 balls) with a perfectly flighted delivery which stopped on him, enticing a simple return catch.
Enduring an underwhelming tournament thus far, Kuldeep, India's most prolific ODI spinner in recent years, finally came to the party when it mattered.
Ravindra (37 off 29 balls) took on the Indian pacers, hitting four boundaries and a six to give his team momentum first up as Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya struggled to contain the run flow.
In fact, the opening stand of 57 between Ravindra and Will Young (15 off 23 balls) is the highest by any team against India in the tournament.
India's trump card Varun Chakravarthy (1/21 in 3 overs) got one to straighten and catch Young in-front while Kuldeep executed a perfectly pitched left-arm spinner's googly which breached Ravindra's defence. He returned to get rid of Williamson. Former captain Williamson will not field in the second innings of the Champions Trophy final against India after picking up a quadriceps strain while batting, the NZC said on Sunday. Mark Chapman has taken his place in the field.
Tom Latham (14) and Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101) added 27 runs in a sedate fourth wicket stand before the left-hander tried to sweep a Ravindra Jadeja delivery on middle stump and missed it completely.