New Zealand vs. India: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Match Highlights – March 2, 2025

 

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New Zealand vs. India: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Match Highlights – March 2, 2025

Cricket fans, what a showdown we witnessed yesterday! On March 2, 2025, the New Zealand National Cricket Team locked horns with the India National Cricket Team in the final Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India emerged victorious by 44 runs, topping their group and setting up a blockbuster semi-final clash with Australia. As of 07:57 AM IST on March 3, here’s the rundown of the match highlights, latest data, and trending news from this thrilling encounter.

Match Overview: India’s Spin Magic Seals the Deal

India posted 249/9 in their 50 overs and then bowled New Zealand out for 205 in 47.2 overs, clinching a commanding win. Both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals, but this match determined the Group A leader—and India stamped their authority in style. The Dubai pitch, slow and turning as noted by posts on X, played into India’s hands, with spinners delivering a masterclass that left the Blackcaps reeling.

• Toss: New Zealand won and elected to bowl, hoping to exploit early conditions and chase under lights with potential dew.
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE—India’s fortress, where they remain unbeaten in eight ODIs (seven wins, one tie), per Republic World.
• Weather: Clear skies, cooling from 25°C to 22°C by evening, per Livemint—no interruptions, just pure cricket.

India’s Batting: From Trouble to Triumph

India’s innings kicked off on a shaky note. Captain Rohit Sharma (8), Shubman Gill (5), and Virat Kohli (11) fell cheaply to New Zealand’s pace attack, leaving India at 30/3 after 6.4 overs. Matt Henry struck early, dismissing Rohit and Gill, while Kohli’s drive off Henry was snaffled by a jaw-dropping catch from Glenn Phillips—one of the game’s viral moments trending on X. The Indian Express captured the stunned reactions of Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma in the stands.

The turnaround came via Shreyas Iyer’s 79 (98 balls) and a gritty 98-run stand with Axar Patel (42 off 61), lifting India past 100. Hardik Pandya’s explosive 45 (45 balls), including a towering six into the stands (highlighted by the ICC on X), propped up the total. Matt Henry’s sensational 5/42—his second fifer against India—kept New Zealand in the hunt, but India’s late fightback ensured a defendable 249/9. Posts on X praised Iyer and Axar for their composure under pressure, with

@TheSunnyNarwal

calling their knocks “ones to remember.”

New Zealand’s Chase: Spinners Spin a Web

Chasing 250, New Zealand started brightly with Will Young (33) and Devon Conway, but India’s spinners turned the tide. Varun Chakravarthy was the star, ripping through the Kiwi lineup with a career-best 5/42—the tournament’s top bowling figures so far, per Times of India. His scalps included Young (bowled), Rachin Ravindra (caught brilliantly by Axar at slip), and Mitchell Santner (bamboozled by a low skidder), as noted by News18.

• Key Wickets: Axar Patel snagged Kane Williamson (28) with a peach that spun back to hit the stumps—a moment the ICC flagged as a Player of the Day contender on X. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with tight spells, bowling nearly 40 overs of spin collectively, per

  @crickethub_pk

  .
• Collapse: From 82/2, New Zealand slumped to 205 all out, with Glenn Phillips (35) and Daryl Mitchell offering resistance but unable to stem the tide.

ESPNcricinfo’s post-match analysis hailed India’s spin dominance: “Spin does the trick as India ease past New Zealand to finish top of the group.”

Standout Moments Trending Now

1. Phillips’ Blinder: Glenn Phillips’ diving catch to dismiss Kohli left fans—and Kohli—speechless. X posts labeled it “spectacular,” with replays trending widely.
2. Chakravarthy’s Fifer: Varun’s five-wicket haul stole the show, earning praise from Anil Kumble and Sanjay Manjrekar on ESPNcricinfo MatchDay’s live chat.
3. Henry’s Heroics: Matt Henry’s 5/42 was a lone bright spot for New Zealand, showcasing his threat despite the loss, per The Indian Express.
4. Axar’s All-Round Impact: A vital 42 with the bat and Williamson’s wicket with the ball made Axar a fan favorite on social media.

Post-Match Buzz and Semi-Final Setup

India’s win means they finish atop Group A with three victories (Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand), setting up a semi-final rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia on March 4 in Dubai. New Zealand, despite the loss, advance as Group A runners-up to face South Africa in Lahore on March 5, per Republic World. Australia and South Africa, Group B’s top two, learned their fates after this result, with the Dubai-Lahore split now locked in.

• Stats Update: India’s 60-50 ODI win record over New Zealand (118 matches) grew stronger, though their Champions Trophy head-to-head remains 0-1 after a 2000 final loss (Jagran Josh).
• Player Sentiment: KL Rahul, speaking pre-match to ICC-cricket.com, confirmed the squad’s fitness, a boost as India heads into the knockouts undefeated.

What’s Trending on X and Beyond

• Posts on X from

  @ICC

  and

  @ESPNcricinfo

  are dissecting Phillips’ catches, Pandya’s six, and Chakravarthy’s spell, with fans voting for the Sobha Realty Player of the Day.
• Emotional reactions flooded in—

  @Journalist__KC

  highlighted Kohli’s shock at Phillips’ catch, while

  @PrakashTiwariMp

  lauded the Iyer-Axar rescue act.
• Analysts like David White (ex-NZ CEO) had predicted a tight contest (Times of India), but India’s spin mastery proved decisive.

How to Relive It

Missed the action? Catch highlights on Star Sports Network or stream the full match on Disney+ Hotstar. ESPNcricinfo MatchDay’s post-game chat with Kumble, Manjrekar, and Shane Bond is live now—perfect for a deep dive into this classic.

Final Thoughts

March 2, 2025, delivered a Champions Trophy thriller that showcased India’s spin prowess and resilience. Varun Chakravarthy’s fifer, Shreyas Iyer’s backbone, and Glenn Phillips’ acrobatics lit up Dubai, setting the stage for an epic India-Australia semi-final. New Zealand will lick their wounds and regroup for South Africa, but for now, India’s unbeaten run has the cricket world buzzing. What’s your highlight from this clash? The semi-finals await!

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