India secured a semi-final berth in the 2025 Champions Trophy with a 44-run win over New Zealand, thanks to a stellar performance by Varun Chakravarthy. The wrist-spinner, playing only his second ODI, claimed a match-winning 5-42, the best figures in the tournament so far, as India bowled out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs.
Skipper Rohit Sharma praised Chakravarthy, calling him a “good headache” for the team. “Varun has got something different. We wanted to see what he could offer. If he gets it right, he’s very difficult to read,” Rohit said during the post-match presentation.
India’s batting was anchored by Shreyas Iyer’s 79 and a crucial 98-run partnership with Axar Patel (42). Rohit highlighted the importance of finishing strong, especially against a formidable New Zealand side. “The Axar-Shreyas partnership was crucial after we lost early wickets. With our quality bowlers, we were confident of defending the total,” he added.
India will now face Australia in the semi-final, a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Rohit acknowledged Australia’s strong ICC tournament history but emphasized the need for focus and execution.
Chakravarthy, named Player of the Match, admitted to initial nerves but credited his teammates for calming him down. “Virat, Rohit, and others kept talking to me, which helped. It was a team effort,” he said.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will take on South Africa in the second semi-final. Skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged India’s dominance and the challenging pitch conditions. “India controlled the middle phase, and their spinners were exceptional,” he said.
