Champions Trophy 2025 IND vs NZ: Michael Bracewell’s Late Cameo

The final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 saw India chasing 252 for the championship. New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to bat, made a fighting total of 251 for 7—a total that didn’t help after Indian spinners did drastic damage. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy were the top bowlers, taking two wickets apiece with Ravindra Jadeja doing a very tight spell and putting pressure on the batsmen.

New Zealand’s Innings

Champions Trophy 2025 IND vs NZ: Michael Bracewell’s Late Cameo (Credits- ESPN)New Zealand won the coin toss and elected to bat first, but that turned out to be a big advantage for India, as the spin attack from India wreaked havoc on the Black Caps’ batting order.

Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India had a shaky start as they were put on the back foot by some high-quality New Zealand bowling in the opening phases. However, it was in the middle phases that India gained the advantage during the match, as New Zealand’s middle order found it so hard to cope with the spin-duo of Yadav and Chakravarthy.

In the initial phases, some missed opportunities were visible from India. In 7 over instances, Shami dropped a catch, while a tough catch went amiss for Shreyas Iyer during the 8th over.

But soon enough, India gained some grip over the New Zealand batting order. Varun Chakravarthy was brought in quite early in the 6th over and made an impact instantly by getting Will Young (15) out through LBW, all in the 8th over.

Key Performances: Mitchell and Bracewell Impress

Tantalizing runs kept New Zealand going despite the pressure exerted by the spinners. Daryl Mitchell produced a gritty knock, leading New Zealand with 63 runs.

He helped stabilize, though New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rachin Ravindra, who was dropped twice previously, was bowled out for 37 runs by Kuldeep Yadav in his opening over. The Yadav-Chakravarthy pair kept going strong, with Yadav sending Kane Williamson back for a mere 11 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja sending Tom Latham back for 14 runs.

Next, it was the middle order that fell apart again as New Zealand’s most aggressive batter, Glenn Phillips, was bowled out for 34 runs by Chakravarthy. Next, Captain Santner arrived at the crease, though his stay at the crease was soon cut short. He was run out by Kohli on a very quick throw, compounding the woes of the Black Caps.

Bracewell’s Strong Finish

With New Zealand’s innings in jeopardy, it was left to the hard-hitting Michael Bracewell to salvage it. He played a cracker of a knock, remaining not out at 53 runs on 40 balls, that included 2 sixes and 3 fours.

The power hitting of Michael Bracewell brought New Zealand to a total of 251 runs respectable score for an ODI match, though the real issue lay in the fact that scoring effectively was adversely affected by their incapability to negotiate spin on this pitch.

India Bowling: Spinners Rule

The Indian spin bowlers were the masterminds behind New Zealand’s collapse. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy played key roles, picking two wickets apiece, as Ravindra Jadeja’s tight 10-over spell of 1/30 kept the New Zealand batsmen from opening up. Although Shami leaked 1/74 in 9 overs, the Indian spinners’ dominance over the match was unquestionable. India’s performance in the field also remained sharp, with Kohli’s direct hit to run out Santner being a key moment.

The Chase Ahead: India Needs 252 to Win

Now, India has to pursue a target of 252 runs to win the ICC Champions Trophy. The game is very much in balance, and with the spin department in top gear, India will be hopeful that they can chase down this score with their strong batting unit. New Zealand, with only 251 runs to defend, will be looking for an early breakthrough to unsettle India’s pursuit.

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