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Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Varun Chakaravarthy got an opportunity because India had already qualified for the semis in the Champions Trophy. Kumble, however, acknowledged that Varun has consistently won the matches for India in the last 18 months or so.
"I think Varun has been exceptional in the last 1-1.5 years, consistently winning matches for whichever team he has played for, whether it's Tamil Nadu or KKR or for India in T20Is," Kumble said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day on Mar 2 during the India vs New Zealand game.&nbsp;
"And now, today, getting an opportunity [in ODIs], because obviously India had already qualified," he added.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-i-always-believe-former-coach-shastri-backs-varun-to-come-good-in-semis-8774663">'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis</a>
India played four spinners in their last group match in Dubai, their venue for the tournament, and defended 249 runs. Each of India's spinners took a wicket, with Varun taking 5/42 as India won the match by 44 runs.
Kumble also acknowledged that the conditions and pitch in Dubai favours India for the semi-final against Australia on March 4 and the final as well, if India make it.
"But going by the pitch and the conditions perhaps for the semi-final and hopefully for India, the final, this certainly augurs well."
"And if this is the kind of pitch India will continue to play on in Dubai, then this four-pronged spin attack would be really a challenge for any team. Australia would find it extremely difficult to manoeuvre these four spinners," said the former coach and Test skipper.
Dubai was selected as the venue after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament due to political tensions.
Post multiple rounds of talks with all the participating teams, the ICC, PCB, and BCCI agreed upon hosting the tournament under a hybrid model.

Champions Trophy: Ex-India spinner Anil Kumble acknowledged that Varun Chakaravarthy has consistently won the matches for India in last 18 months or so. Cricket Sports

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Varun Chakaravarthy got an opportunity because India had already qualified for the semis in the Champions Trophy. Kumble, however, acknowledged that Varun has consistently won the matches for India in the last 18 months or so. "I think Varun has been exceptional in the last 1-1.5 years, consistently winning matches for whichever team he has played for, whether it's Tamil Nadu or KKR or for India in T20Is," Kumble said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day on Mar 2 during the India vs New Zealand game. "And now, today, getting an opportunity [in ODIs], because obviously India had already qualified," he added. Also Read: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis India played four spinners in their last group match in Dubai, their venue for the tournament, and defended 249 runs. Each of India's spinners took a wicket, with Varun taking 5/42 as India won the match by 44 runs. Kumble also acknowledged that the conditions and pitch in Dubai favours India for the semi-final against Australia on March 4 and the final as well, if India make it. "But going by the pitch and the conditions perhaps for the semi-final and hopefully for India, the final, this certainly augurs well." "And if this is the kind of pitch India will continue to play on in Dubai, then this four-pronged spin attack would be really a challenge for any team. Australia would find it extremely difficult to manoeuvre these four spinners," said the former coach and Test skipper. Dubai was selected as the venue after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament due to political tensions. Post multiple rounds of talks with all the participating teams, the ICC, PCB, and BCCI agreed upon hosting the tournament under a hybrid model.

Champions Trophy: Ex-spinner Kumble says Varun got 'opportunity because India qualified for semis'

Australia&rsquo;s journey in the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025 semi-finals has been a tale of resilience, grit, and a bit of fortune. Despite losing key players before the tournament, they have showcased their trademark fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase against England before rain played its part in their remaining group games. Now, with a place in the final on the line, Australia will lock horns with India in a high-stakes semi-final in Dubai, eyeing yet another ICC title. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their&nbsp; journey so far in the tournament.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-recapping-indias-road-to-semi-finals-8774865">Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals</a>
<h2>Huge win over England</h2>
Their tournament got off to a thrilling start against England, where they chased down 352 - the highest-ever successful chase in history of Champions Trophy. In the first innings, Ben Dwarshuis, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/adam-zampa">Adam Zampa</a> and Marnus Labuschagne all collected multiple scalps, but <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ben-duckett">Ben Duckett</a>'s indomitable 165 powered England to 351/8 from their 50 overs.
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Australia faltered early in the chase, before Matthew Short and Alex Carey steadied things with half-centuries. But the hero was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/josh-inglis">Josh Inglis</a>, whose game-changing 120 not oout propelled the Aussies over the line in Lahore.
<h2>Rain plays spoilsport vs South Africa</h2>
Their match against South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi, leading to both the team sharing points.
<h2>Australia vs Afghanistan - Match abandoned</h2>
And then a subsequent rain-affected game against Afghanistan added a point to their bag, sealing their semi-final spot at another marquee ICC event.&nbsp;Afghanistan posted a total of 273 runs on the board from their 50 overs and Australia looked set to chase it at 109/1 in 12.5 overs, before play was abandoned in Lahore.
They will now face India in a cut-throat semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4), with the winner advancing to the tournament decider on Sunday (March 9).

Sports, Cricket: Despite losing key players, they have showcased their fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase vsEngland before rain affected their remaining group games

Australia’s journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals has been a tale of resilience, grit, and a bit of fortune. Despite losing key players before the tournament, they have showcased their trademark fighting spirit, scripting a historic run chase against England before rain played its part in their remaining group games. Now, with a place in the final on the line, Australia will lock horns with India in a high-stakes semi-final in Dubai, eyeing yet another ICC title. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their journey so far in the tournament. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals Huge win over England Their tournament got off to a thrilling start against England, where they chased down 352 - the highest-ever successful chase in history of Champions Trophy. In the first innings, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne all collected multiple scalps, but Ben Duckett's indomitable 165 powered England to 351/8 from their 50 overs. Australia faltered early in the chase, before Matthew Short and Alex Carey steadied things with half-centuries. But the hero was Josh Inglis, whose game-changing 120 not oout propelled the Aussies over the line in Lahore. Rain plays spoilsport vs South Africa Their match against South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi, leading to both the team sharing points. Australia vs Afghanistan - Match abandoned And then a subsequent rain-affected game against Afghanistan added a point to their bag, sealing their semi-final spot at another marquee ICC event. Afghanistan posted a total of 273 runs on the board from their 50 overs and Australia looked set to chase it at 109/1 in 12.5 overs, before play was abandoned in Lahore. They will now face India in a cut-throat semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4), with the winner advancing to the tournament decider on Sunday (March 9).

Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping Australia’s road to semi-finals

India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4).
From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-i-always-believe-former-coach-shastri-backs-varun-to-come-good-in-semis-8774663">Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis</a>
<h2>Beat Bangladesh by six wickets</h2>
India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note.&nbsp;Pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a>'s impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228.
Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare.
<h2>Dominant win over arch-rivals</h2>
In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kuldeep-yadav">Kuldeep Yadav</a> weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory.
<h2>Beat New Zealand by 44 runs</h2>
A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A.
New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first.
It was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakravarthy</a> show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.

Cricket, Sports: Three dominating wins from as many matches have India in fine form ahead of their knockout semi-final against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4)

India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4). From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far. Also Read: Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis Beat Bangladesh by six wickets India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note. Pacer Mohammed Shami's impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228. Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare. Dominant win over arch-rivals In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again. Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory. Beat New Zealand by 44 runs A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A. New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first. It was a Varun Chakravarthy show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.

Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the team management for giving spinner Varun Chakaravarthy an opportunity at the right time in the Champions Trophy. Varun took a five-for in India's 44-run win against New Zealand on Mar 2 in Dubai.
&ldquo;Very impressed with him (Chakravarthy), and full marks to the think tank and the team management for making the right choice because he&rsquo;s someone who will get you wickets in the middle overs.&rdquo;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the right time to unleash him. They brought him into the side; he&rsquo;s got a five-wicket haul, and I think he&rsquo;s there to stay,&rdquo; Shastri said in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-spinner-varun-reveals-he-wanted-to-be-an-architect-or-make-movies-before-taking-cricket-at-26-8773470">Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'</a>
&ldquo;If you see his current form, and I always believe in current form &ndash; it&rsquo;s vital and when you look at his body language, his self-confidence and his own ability and when you look at oppositions like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa that are left in this tournament, not many sides have played too much of him or seen enough of him,&rdquo; Shastri added.
The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament.
Varun made his ODI debut against England, which followed the T20Is, before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out the first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth.
His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year.
It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Cricket Sports

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has lauded the team management for giving spinner Varun Chakaravarthy an opportunity at the right time in the Champions Trophy. Varun took a five-for in India's 44-run win against New Zealand on Mar 2 in Dubai. “Very impressed with him (Chakravarthy), and full marks to the think tank and the team management for making the right choice because he’s someone who will get you wickets in the middle overs.” “It’s the right time to unleash him. They brought him into the side; he’s got a five-wicket haul, and I think he’s there to stay,” Shastri said in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram. Also Read: Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies' “If you see his current form, and I always believe in current form – it’s vital and when you look at his body language, his self-confidence and his own ability and when you look at oppositions like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa that are left in this tournament, not many sides have played too much of him or seen enough of him,” Shastri added. The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Varun made his ODI debut against England, which followed the T20Is, before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out the first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth. His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in the 2021 T20 World Cup, due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year. It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia on Mar 4 in Dubai because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis

Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world&rsquo;s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>&rsquo;s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans. &nbsp; &ldquo;I felt my time in this world was up,&rdquo; said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale&mdash;on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni&rsquo;s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-bought-at-base-price-of-inr-150000-veteran-batter-ajinkya-rahane-set-to-lead-kkr-8774095">IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR</a>
Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: &ldquo;I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup." &nbsp; "Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added. &nbsp; Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ariarne-titmus" rel="dofollow">Ariarne Titmus</a>, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc M&aacute;rquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career.
Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, &ldquo;I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through &ndash; and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who&rsquo;s who of sporting royalty, including France&rsquo;s Olympic hero L&eacute;on Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar. The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.

Sports, Cricket: Nominees for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards are decided after a vote by the world’s sports media. The ceremony will take place in  Madrid, Spain, on April 21

Rishabh Pant’s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world’s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary. Rishabh Pant’s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans. “I felt my time in this world was up,” said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale—on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper. Also Read: IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: “I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup." "Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added. Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc Márquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career. Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, “I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through – and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.” Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who’s who of sporting royalty, including France’s Olympic hero Léon Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion Max Verstappen, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar. The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.

After Sachin Tendulkar, Rishabh Pant becomes second Indian cricketer to be nominated for Laureus Award

India skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed claims that his team has an unfair advantage in the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> as it is playing all the matches in Dubai. Speaking ahead of India's semifinal clash against Australia, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit</a> emphasised that Dubai is not India's home venue and that the pitches have behaved differently in each match.
"Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too," the Indian skipper said.
Several former cricketers from Pakistan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/australia-cricket">Australia</a>, and England had questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group A teams. However, Rohit pointed out that adapting to different surfaces has been a key factor in their success.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sourav-gangulys-befitting-reply-to-england-broadcasters-over-india-enjoying-one-venue-advantage-in-champions-trophy-8773594">Ganguly&rsquo;s befitting reply to England broadcasters over India enjoying &lsquo;one venue&rsquo; advantage</a>
"There are four or five surfaces being used here. I don't know which pitch we will play on in the semifinals, but whatever happens, we will have to adapt," he added.
<h2>'Adaptation is key'</h2>
Citing India&rsquo;s last group-stage match against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/new-zealand-cricket">New Zealand</a>, Rohit explained how pitch conditions kept changing. "We saw some swing for the New Zealand bowlers, which wasn&rsquo;t there in the first two games. In the last game, there wasn&rsquo;t much spin, but today there was a bit of it. So, it's not like we know exactly how the pitch will behave."
Rohit also defended India's decision to include five spinners in the squad, stating that their selection was influenced by observing the ILT20 matches played in Dubai. "We had an idea that the surfaces would be slow. Watching ILT20, we felt slower bowlers would play a big role here."
On India's early arrival in Dubai, Rohit acknowledged it helped the team adapt. "Luckily, we came here five or six days before the tournament, trained well, and the pitches at the ICC Academy were similar to the match conditions. Adaptation is the key, and we have done that well so far."
India will take on Australia in the semifinal, where Rohit expects a good contest, particularly if the pitch offers something for the bowlers. "When you have surfaces that challenge both batters and bowlers, it makes the game more exciting. I am all for it."

Cricket, Sports: Several former cricketers have questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group teams

India skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed claims that his team has an unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy as it is playing all the matches in Dubai. Speaking ahead of India's semifinal clash against Australia, Rohit emphasised that Dubai is not India's home venue and that the pitches have behaved differently in each match. "Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, and this is new for us too," the Indian skipper said. Several former cricketers from Pakistan, Australia, and England had questioned India's prolonged stay in Dubai, arguing it allowed them to acclimatise better than other Group A teams. However, Rohit pointed out that adapting to different surfaces has been a key factor in their success. Also Read: Ganguly’s befitting reply to England broadcasters over India enjoying ‘one venue’ advantage "There are four or five surfaces being used here. I don't know which pitch we will play on in the semifinals, but whatever happens, we will have to adapt," he added. 'Adaptation is key' Citing India’s last group-stage match against New Zealand, Rohit explained how pitch conditions kept changing. "We saw some swing for the New Zealand bowlers, which wasn’t there in the first two games. In the last game, there wasn’t much spin, but today there was a bit of it. So, it's not like we know exactly how the pitch will behave." Rohit also defended India's decision to include five spinners in the squad, stating that their selection was influenced by observing the ILT20 matches played in Dubai. "We had an idea that the surfaces would be slow. Watching ILT20, we felt slower bowlers would play a big role here." On India's early arrival in Dubai, Rohit acknowledged it helped the team adapt. "Luckily, we came here five or six days before the tournament, trained well, and the pitches at the ICC Academy were similar to the match conditions. Adaptation is the key, and we have done that well so far." India will take on Australia in the semifinal, where Rohit expects a good contest, particularly if the pitch offers something for the bowlers. "When you have surfaces that challenge both batters and bowlers, it makes the game more exciting. I am all for it."

Champions Trophy 2025: 'Dubai is not our home...', India captain Rohit Sharma on one venue advantage

After a dominating 44-run win over New Zealand in their final Group A match in Dubai on Sunday (March 2), India are set to take on Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> on Tuesday (March 4). Skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a>, addressing the media in the pre-match press conference, acknowledged Australia's formidable history in ICC knockout matches but stressed that India's focus remains on executing their plans effectively.
When asked whether facing Australia in the semi-final brings extra motivation, given India&rsquo;s heartbreaking loss to them in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Rohit dismissed any external influences affecting his team's approach.
"No, look, it's a great opposition to play against. All we have to do is stick to what we've been focusing on in the last three games. We need to approach this match with the same mindset," Rohit said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-spinner-varun-reveals-he-wanted-to-be-an-architect-or-make-movies-before-taking-cricket-at-26-8773470">Champions Trophy: Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'</a>
While recognising Australia's ability to perform in high-pressure matches, Rohit underscored the importance of India concentrating on its own strengths.
"We understand how the opposition plays, but the key for us is to focus on what we need to do as a team&mdash;whether as a batting unit or a bowling unit. That approach has helped us a lot," he added.
<h2>'Expect some nervy moments in middle'</h2>
The Indian captain acknowledged the challenges expected in a high-stakes knockout match, highlighting Australia&rsquo;s resilience and tendency to fight back.
"Australia has been a great team over the years, so we expect some fightbacks and nervy moments in the middle. But that's the nature of the game at this level," Rohit remarked.
Rohit remains confident in his side&rsquo;s ability to handle the challenge. "We know they will put up a fight, but for us, the priority is to keep focusing on our game plan. If we execute our strategies well, the results will follow," he signed off.
India, notably, have not beaten Australia in an ICC knockout match since the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal. However, Rohit dismissed the notion that India are under added pressure, asserting that both teams share the same 'pressure to win' at this stage of the tournament.
Australia are missing key players in the tournament, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a>.

Cricket, Sports: While recognising Australia's ability to perform in high-pressure matches, Rohit underscored the importance of India concentrating on its own strengths

After a dominating 44-run win over New Zealand in their final Group A match in Dubai on Sunday (March 2), India are set to take on Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy on Tuesday (March 4). Skipper Rohit Sharma, addressing the media in the pre-match press conference, acknowledged Australia's formidable history in ICC knockout matches but stressed that India's focus remains on executing their plans effectively. When asked whether facing Australia in the semi-final brings extra motivation, given India’s heartbreaking loss to them in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Rohit dismissed any external influences affecting his team's approach. "No, look, it's a great opposition to play against. All we have to do is stick to what we've been focusing on in the last three games. We need to approach this match with the same mindset," Rohit said. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies' While recognising Australia's ability to perform in high-pressure matches, Rohit underscored the importance of India concentrating on its own strengths. "We understand how the opposition plays, but the key for us is to focus on what we need to do as a team—whether as a batting unit or a bowling unit. That approach has helped us a lot," he added. 'Expect some nervy moments in middle' The Indian captain acknowledged the challenges expected in a high-stakes knockout match, highlighting Australia’s resilience and tendency to fight back. "Australia has been a great team over the years, so we expect some fightbacks and nervy moments in the middle. But that's the nature of the game at this level," Rohit remarked. Rohit remains confident in his side’s ability to handle the challenge. "We know they will put up a fight, but for us, the priority is to keep focusing on our game plan. If we execute our strategies well, the results will follow," he signed off. India, notably, have not beaten Australia in an ICC knockout match since the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal. However, Rohit dismissed the notion that India are under added pressure, asserting that both teams share the same 'pressure to win' at this stage of the tournament. Australia are missing key players in the tournament, including Pat Cummins.

Champions Trophy 2025: Ahead of semi-final against Australia, Rohit stresses on team’s focus

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Ajinkya Rahane as their captain ahead of the upcoming season. Venkatesh Iyer has been named Rahane's deputy as they begin their title defence on March 22 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
&ldquo;We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and brings a lot of leadership qualities. We are confident that they will combine well as we start the defence of our title,&rdquo; said Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, via a press release.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-spinner-varun-reveals-he-wanted-to-be-an-architect-or-make-movies-before-taking-cricket-at-26-8773470">India spinner Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'</a>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, which has been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. I think we have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and taking up the challenge of defending our title,&rdquo; Rahane said upon receiving the captaincy.
The veteran Indian batter was done and dusted when a stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led to his second innings, where the technical batter plays with disdain and flamboyance. KKR had bought Rahane at the auction for his base price of INR 1.50 crore ($1,72,000 approximately).
KKR, in the IPL mega auction in November 2024, decided to let go skipper Shreyas Iyer as they kept the rest of the core the same. They retained the maximum allowed six players ahead of the auction with Varun Chakaravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Harshit Rana.
They bought back Iyer for a whopping INR 23.75 crore ($2.6 million) on the first day of the auction, along with other players including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, and Quinton de Kock.
The IPL season starts on March 22, with the final set to be played nearly two months later on May 25&mdash;both in Kolkata.

The veteran Indian batter was done and dusted when a stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led to his second innings, where the technical batter plays with disdain and flamboyance. Cricket Sports

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Ajinkya Rahane as their captain ahead of the upcoming season. Venkatesh Iyer has been named Rahane's deputy as they begin their title defence on March 22 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. “We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and brings a lot of leadership qualities. We are confident that they will combine well as we start the defence of our title,” said Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, via a press release. Also Read: India spinner Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies' “It’s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, which has been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. I think we have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and taking up the challenge of defending our title,” Rahane said upon receiving the captaincy. The veteran Indian batter was done and dusted when a stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led to his second innings, where the technical batter plays with disdain and flamboyance. KKR had bought Rahane at the auction for his base price of INR 1.50 crore ($1,72,000 approximately). KKR, in the IPL mega auction in November 2024, decided to let go skipper Shreyas Iyer as they kept the rest of the core the same. They retained the maximum allowed six players ahead of the auction with Varun Chakaravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Harshit Rana. They bought back Iyer for a whopping INR 23.75 crore ($2.6 million) on the first day of the auction, along with other players including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, and Quinton de Kock. The IPL season starts on March 22, with the final set to be played nearly two months later on May 25—both in Kolkata.

IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR

India and Australia&mdash;the two most successful cricket teams across formats&mdash;are up for a massive semi-final clash in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a> in Dubai on Tuesday (Mar 4). While India topped Group A after winning all three matches, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-australia-in-semis-as-rain-hits-afghanistans-chances-8766705" rel="dofollow">Australia advanced to the semis</a> by completing just one game, with the rain affecting the results of the remaining two. So, who stands tall in this clash of the titans? Here is the match prediction and predicted playing XIs for the first semi-final.
<h2>Preview and match prediction</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619" rel="dofollow">India beat New Zealand in Dubai in the last league match</a> on Sunday, ending on the top of the points table with three wins in as many matches. Although there is nothing much to read in their batting order, with everyone playing their roles to near perfection, it&rsquo;s a headache to pick the bowling attack for the marquee clash.
After what mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy did to the Kiwis with his record spell on his Champions Trophy debut, it&rsquo;s unlikely that India will bench him for the crunch Aussie game, which is to be played on a dry Dubai surface, assisting spinners.&nbsp;
Should the management decide to bring in either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, one of Kuldeep Yadav or the spin-bowling all-rounders would be left out.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sunil-gavaskar-sourav-weigh-in-on-indias-chances-against-australia-in-champions-trophy-semifinal-ganguly-says-india-can-beat-anyone-8773310" rel="dofollow">Can India beat Australia in Champions Trophy semis? Ex-captains have their say</a>
On the other hand, the mighty Aussies are without their powerhouse bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, alongside all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Matt Short, with several newcomers filling in for them. Despite that, they never looked like a pale shadow of themselves. Against England in their only completed match this time, Australia chased 352 in Lahore, completing the highest successful run chase in the tournament history.&nbsp;
Though Australia leads India in the overall head-to-head tally in ODIs, winning 84 out of 151 contested matches compared to India&rsquo;s 57, India haven&rsquo;t lost to them in this competition, having won twice (1998 and 2000). India last faced Australia in this competition in 2009, with the rain playing spoilsport then.
Besides, the last time India beat Australia in an ICC 50-over event was 14 years ago during the 2011 ODI World Cup, where India lifted the title after 28 years.
Meanwhile, the toss and who adapts to the conditions well and plays spin better will eventually determine the winner of this game.&nbsp;
<h3>Predicted Playing XIs &ndash;</h3>
India &ndash; Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy
Australia &ndash; Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa

Cricket, Sports: Though Australia leads India in the overall head-to-head tally in ODIs, the Men in Blue haven't lost to them in this competition.

India and Australia—the two most successful cricket teams across formats—are up for a massive semi-final clash in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Tuesday (Mar 4). While India topped Group A after winning all three matches, Australia advanced to the semis by completing just one game, with the rain affecting the results of the remaining two. So, who stands tall in this clash of the titans? Here is the match prediction and predicted playing XIs for the first semi-final. Preview and match prediction India beat New Zealand in Dubai in the last league match on Sunday, ending on the top of the points table with three wins in as many matches. Although there is nothing much to read in their batting order, with everyone playing their roles to near perfection, it’s a headache to pick the bowling attack for the marquee clash. After what mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy did to the Kiwis with his record spell on his Champions Trophy debut, it’s unlikely that India will bench him for the crunch Aussie game, which is to be played on a dry Dubai surface, assisting spinners. Should the management decide to bring in either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, one of Kuldeep Yadav or the spin-bowling all-rounders would be left out. Also read | Can India beat Australia in Champions Trophy semis? Ex-captains have their say On the other hand, the mighty Aussies are without their powerhouse bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, alongside all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Matt Short, with several newcomers filling in for them. Despite that, they never looked like a pale shadow of themselves. Against England in their only completed match this time, Australia chased 352 in Lahore, completing the highest successful run chase in the tournament history. Though Australia leads India in the overall head-to-head tally in ODIs, winning 84 out of 151 contested matches compared to India’s 57, India haven’t lost to them in this competition, having won twice (1998 and 2000). India last faced Australia in this competition in 2009, with the rain playing spoilsport then. Besides, the last time India beat Australia in an ICC 50-over event was 14 years ago during the 2011 ODI World Cup, where India lifted the title after 28 years. Meanwhile, the toss and who adapts to the conditions well and plays spin better will eventually determine the winner of this game. Predicted Playing XIs – India – Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy Australia – Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa

India vs Australia, Champions Trophy 2025, 1st semi-final – Match prediction and playing XI

India secured a dominant 44-run victory over New Zealand in Dubai, booking a semifinal clash with Australia. Varun Chakravarty impressed on his tournament debut, while Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in India's triumph. Can India carry this momentum into the semis?

Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finalists confirmed: India to face Australia

There&rsquo;s been a lot of talk from all quarters about how the ICC favoured India by granting them just one venue for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> when the remaining participating teams are shuffling across different cities (in Pakistan and even Dubai) for their league matches, with former England captain-turned-broadcasters Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton voicing for the same. Ex-Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly appropriately replied to all those questioning.
From Australia captain Pat Cummins, the English commentators, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi to ace <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/playing-in-dubai-definitely-an-advantage-for-india-in-champions-trophy-rassie-van-der-dussen-8763938" rel="dofollow">Protean batter Rassie van der Dussen</a>, everyone pointed out how India is enjoying the advantage of playing at the same venue, even the semis and the finale (should they qualify).&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sunil-gavaskar-sourav-weigh-in-on-indias-chances-against-australia-in-champions-trophy-semifinal-ganguly-says-india-can-beat-anyone-8773310" rel="dofollow">Can India beat Australia in Champions Trophy semis? Ex-captains have their say</a>
After ICC allotted Pakistan the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI denied sending its team across the border for the eight-team tournament for security reasons, later persuading the apex body to convince the PCB to accept the hybrid model. Though the host denied doing it in the first go, they later agreed by putting conditions that the BCCI also had to accept to ensure the tournament went ahead.
As a result, the ICC and the PCB picked Dubai as the venue for all India matches, and every team in Group A, including the host Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand, had to travel to the UAE to play the Men in Blue. India has won all its group games, with a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619" rel="dofollow">44-run win over the Kiwis</a> on Sunday being their latest.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, all (remaining) seven participants in Groups A and B played their group games in Pakistan across three cities (Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi), playing in different conditions and venues.
<h2>Ganguly&rsquo;s reply to Nasser, Atherton</h2>
While the par score in Pakistan (in this competition) is way higher than it is in Dubai, with at least eight hundreds and 17 fifties scored across all league matches compared to just three centuries in Dubai, Ganguly said had India played in Pakistan, they would have scored much more, winning convincingly.&nbsp;
"The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would've scored more runs there,&rdquo; Ganguly said on the sidelines of a CAB event.
Even against New Zealand in India&rsquo;s last league match, the Men in Blue scored 249 &ndash; the highest in three contested matches at the venue thus far.
Meanwhile, India will face Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (Mar 4) in the first semi-final, whereas, New Zealand will take on the Proteas in the second game the next day in Lahore.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: After ICC allotted Pakistan the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI denied sending its team for the eight-team tournament for security reasons.

There’s been a lot of talk from all quarters about how the ICC favoured India by granting them just one venue for Champions Trophy 2025 when the remaining participating teams are shuffling across different cities (in Pakistan and even Dubai) for their league matches, with former England captain-turned-broadcasters Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton voicing for the same. Ex-Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly appropriately replied to all those questioning. From Australia captain Pat Cummins, the English commentators, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi to ace Protean batter Rassie van der Dussen, everyone pointed out how India is enjoying the advantage of playing at the same venue, even the semis and the finale (should they qualify). Also read | Can India beat Australia in Champions Trophy semis? Ex-captains have their say After ICC allotted Pakistan the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI denied sending its team across the border for the eight-team tournament for security reasons, later persuading the apex body to convince the PCB to accept the hybrid model. Though the host denied doing it in the first go, they later agreed by putting conditions that the BCCI also had to accept to ensure the tournament went ahead. As a result, the ICC and the PCB picked Dubai as the venue for all India matches, and every team in Group A, including the host Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand, had to travel to the UAE to play the Men in Blue. India has won all its group games, with a 44-run win over the Kiwis on Sunday being their latest. Meanwhile, all (remaining) seven participants in Groups A and B played their group games in Pakistan across three cities (Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi), playing in different conditions and venues. Ganguly’s reply to Nasser, Atherton While the par score in Pakistan (in this competition) is way higher than it is in Dubai, with at least eight hundreds and 17 fifties scored across all league matches compared to just three centuries in Dubai, Ganguly said had India played in Pakistan, they would have scored much more, winning convincingly. "The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would've scored more runs there,” Ganguly said on the sidelines of a CAB event. Even against New Zealand in India’s last league match, the Men in Blue scored 249 – the highest in three contested matches at the venue thus far. Meanwhile, India will face Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (Mar 4) in the first semi-final, whereas, New Zealand will take on the Proteas in the second game the next day in Lahore. (With inputs from agencies)

Ganguly’s befitting reply to England broadcasters over India enjoying ‘one venue’ advantage

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has called out Congress worker Shama Mohamed for her remarks on India skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness. Mohamed, in an apparent dig, called Rohit 'fat' in a social media post but deleted soon after a huge backlash.
"It's very unfortunate that this kind of remark for our captain has come from a person who is on a responsible post, especially at a time when Team India is playing an ICC tournament and the team is all set to play the semi-final match," Saikia was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-spinner-varun-reveals-he-wanted-to-be-an-architect-or-make-movies-before-taking-cricket-at-26-8773470">India spinner Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'</a>
"It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy..." Mohamed said as reported by ANI in defence of her comment.
<h2>What Shama Mohamed said about Rohit?</h2>
"Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had," Shama had posted on X on Monday (Mar 2).&nbsp;
The comments came on the day India beat new Zealand in their last group-stage match in Champions Trophy in Dubai. India finished as the only team with a win in all three games in the group stage.
The Men in Blue now face ICC tournament nemesis Australia in the first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai. The last time India and Australia faced each other in ODIs was the ODI World Cup 2023 Final on November 19, 2023 which Australia had won.

Congress worker Shama Mohamed called India skipper Rohit Sharma 'fat' in a social media post but deleted soon after a huge backlash. Cricket Sports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has called out Congress worker Shama Mohamed for her remarks on India skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness. Mohamed, in an apparent dig, called Rohit 'fat' in a social media post but deleted soon after a huge backlash. "It's very unfortunate that this kind of remark for our captain has come from a person who is on a responsible post, especially at a time when Team India is playing an ICC tournament and the team is all set to play the semi-final match," Saikia was quoted saying by news agency ANI. Also Read: India spinner Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies' "It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy..." Mohamed said as reported by ANI in defence of her comment. What Shama Mohamed said about Rohit? "Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had," Shama had posted on X on Monday (Mar 2). The comments came on the day India beat new Zealand in their last group-stage match in Champions Trophy in Dubai. India finished as the only team with a win in all three games in the group stage. The Men in Blue now face ICC tournament nemesis Australia in the first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai. The last time India and Australia faced each other in ODIs was the ODI World Cup 2023 Final on November 19, 2023 which Australia had won.

BCCI secretary reacts to Congress worker Shama Mohamed calling India skipper Rohit 'fat'

India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has revealed that he wanted to become an architect or make movies before he picked up cricket at 26. The spinner is now the red-hot thing as India chase the Champions Trophy title in the ongoing tournament.
Playing his first game in the ICC tournament, Varun picked up 5/42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs despite scoring just 249. With the five-for in his second ODI, Varun now has almost booked his place in the semis against Australia on March 4.
Champions Trophy: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-having-that-luxury-nz-pacer-henry-bring-up-dubai-after-loss-against-india-rohit-sharma-8773127">'Having that luxury...,' NZ pacer Henry brings up Dubai after loss against India</a>
Talking to reporters after the game, Varun revealed that he's happy with how things are going on since he started playing cricket.
&ldquo;So, I started cricket very late, pretty late, when I was 26 I started cricket, so before that my dreams were all building, being an architect and making movies,&rdquo; he said after the match.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had different career paths, so it has been different, after 26 is what I started dreaming about cricket and all those things are happening, so yeah, it&rsquo;s been good right now,&rdquo; the spinner added.
The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament.
Varun made his ODI debut against England which followed the T20Is before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth.
His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in 2021 T20 World Cup due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year.
It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Champions Trophy: Playing his first game in the ICC tournament, Varun picked up 5/42 as India won the game by 44 runs despite scoring just 249. cricket Sports

India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has revealed that he wanted to become an architect or make movies before he picked up cricket at 26. The spinner is now the red-hot thing as India chase the Champions Trophy title in the ongoing tournament. Playing his first game in the ICC tournament, Varun picked up 5/42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs despite scoring just 249. With the five-for in his second ODI, Varun now has almost booked his place in the semis against Australia on March 4. Champions Trophy: 'Having that luxury...,' NZ pacer Henry brings up Dubai after loss against India Talking to reporters after the game, Varun revealed that he's happy with how things are going on since he started playing cricket. “So, I started cricket very late, pretty late, when I was 26 I started cricket, so before that my dreams were all building, being an architect and making movies,” he said after the match. “I’ve had different career paths, so it has been different, after 26 is what I started dreaming about cricket and all those things are happening, so yeah, it’s been good right now,” the spinner added. The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Varun made his ODI debut against England which followed the T20Is before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth. His performance in Dubai came full circle after the debacle in 2021 T20 World Cup due to which he was dropped from the side before making a comeback last year. It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Champions Trophy: Varun started playing cricket at 26, before that he wanted to be 'an architect or make movies'

India will face off against Australia in the first semifinal of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a> on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai, and former skippers Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly have thrown their weight behind the Men in Blue to deliver a crunch knockout punch. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619" rel="dofollow">India beat New Zealand by 44 runs</a> on Sunday to stay at the top of Group A, maintaining their winning streak in the ODIs this year.
While Ganguly, under whom India beat Australia in the famous Champions Trophy tie in Nairobi (in 2000), said India is a successful team in ICC events, having won a tournament last year only. India can beat anyone on a given day he said as Gavaskar almost echoed on the same line, adding on the spin-friendly track (to be used for the semis clash), India will hold an advantage over their nemesis.
"India won the last T20 World Cup (in 2024) and played in the final (of 50-over in 2023). It is a very strong team in white-ball cricket, no matter who is on the opposite side. It has the capability to defeat anyone," Ganguly said in a chat with ANI after India beat New Zealand in the Champions Trophy.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-leader-shama-mohamed-fat-shames-indian-captain-rohit-sharma-deletes-post-after-massive-backlash-8772801" rel="dofollow">Congress leader Shama Mohamed fat-shames Indian captain Rohit Sharma, deletes post after massive backlash</a>
Against the Kiwis, the Indian spinners picked nine of the ten fallen wickets, with mystery bowler Varun Chakaravarthy returning with a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/varun-chakaravarthy-attains-best-bowling-figures-for-india-on-champions-trophy-debut-surpasses-shamis-record-8772889" rel="dofollow">record-breaking five-for</a>. India defended a paltry total of 250 against an upbeat New Zealand side - something Gavaskar believes must boost their confidence heading into the crucial semis tie.
The ex-captain-turned-broadcaster also added that should the game be played on a similar surface (used for the New Zealand match), the Indian spinners will come in handy, further explaining the best-case scenario where India can emerge victorious.
"On this surface, yes, because Australia don't seem to have the kind of spinning attack, apart from the fact that they are missing out on key players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Their batting is good. The batting is very aggressive. The ideal thing would be for India maybe to chase, rather than having Australia chase," Gavaskar said while chatting with India Today.
<h2>Would India change the winning XI?</h2>
India rested seamer Harshit Rana, bringing Varun as his replacement, a move that paid dividends, resulting in India winning all three group-stage matches this edition.&nbsp;
However, against Australia in the semis, India could be tempted to stick with the same winning XI, with little chance of making one change maximum.
While the batting order needs no tinkering, the management could face a headache on whom to drop to bring in another seamer for the knockout tie.
Considering Varun helped India win the game, he could retain his place, while Kuldeep Yadav seems the one to face the axe.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gavaskar said should the game be played on a similar surface, the Indian spinners will come in handy, also explaining the best-case scenario where India can win.

India will face off against Australia in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai, and former skippers Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly have thrown their weight behind the Men in Blue to deliver a crunch knockout punch. India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to stay at the top of Group A, maintaining their winning streak in the ODIs this year. While Ganguly, under whom India beat Australia in the famous Champions Trophy tie in Nairobi (in 2000), said India is a successful team in ICC events, having won a tournament last year only. India can beat anyone on a given day he said as Gavaskar almost echoed on the same line, adding on the spin-friendly track (to be used for the semis clash), India will hold an advantage over their nemesis. "India won the last T20 World Cup (in 2024) and played in the final (of 50-over in 2023). It is a very strong team in white-ball cricket, no matter who is on the opposite side. It has the capability to defeat anyone," Ganguly said in a chat with ANI after India beat New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. Also read | Congress leader Shama Mohamed fat-shames Indian captain Rohit Sharma, deletes post after massive backlash Against the Kiwis, the Indian spinners picked nine of the ten fallen wickets, with mystery bowler Varun Chakaravarthy returning with a record-breaking five-for. India defended a paltry total of 250 against an upbeat New Zealand side - something Gavaskar believes must boost their confidence heading into the crucial semis tie. The ex-captain-turned-broadcaster also added that should the game be played on a similar surface (used for the New Zealand match), the Indian spinners will come in handy, further explaining the best-case scenario where India can emerge victorious. "On this surface, yes, because Australia don't seem to have the kind of spinning attack, apart from the fact that they are missing out on key players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Their batting is good. The batting is very aggressive. The ideal thing would be for India maybe to chase, rather than having Australia chase," Gavaskar said while chatting with India Today. Would India change the winning XI? India rested seamer Harshit Rana, bringing Varun as his replacement, a move that paid dividends, resulting in India winning all three group-stage matches this edition. However, against Australia in the semis, India could be tempted to stick with the same winning XI, with little chance of making one change maximum. While the batting order needs no tinkering, the management could face a headache on whom to drop to bring in another seamer for the knockout tie. Considering Varun helped India win the game, he could retain his place, while Kuldeep Yadav seems the one to face the axe. (With inputs from agencies)

Can India beat Australia in Champions Trophy semis? Ex-captains have their say

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said that 'knowing the conditions' helped India win in last Champions Trophy group-stage match on Mar 2 in Dubai. With the win, India finished on top of Group A and will now face Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday (Mar 4) also in Dubai.
&ldquo;I think, obviously, the way to have four frontline spinners was a really effective way to play. I think having that luxury of knowing (conditions)&hellip;they played to the conditions beautifully. That was probably the challenge for us,&rdquo; Henry said during the post-match press conference.
&ldquo;We knew that they were going to play the four spinners. They bowled beautifully. They read the situation and the conditions well. Yeah, unfortunately, we couldn&rsquo;t get across the line,&rdquo; he added.
Also Watch &ndash; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-virat-kohli-touches-axar-patels-feet-in-light-moment-during-new-zealand-game-in-dubai-champions-trophy-8772662">Kohli touches Axar Patel&rsquo;s feet in light moment during New Zealand game in Dubai</a>
Batting first, India were restricted to 249/9 in 50 overs with Henry picking up 5/42. New Zealand, however, could not chase the target and were dismissed for 205.
All four Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy took at least one wicket each as the Kiwis lost their first game of the tournament.
For India, Chakaravarthy was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 5/42 in 10 overs - his first five-for in ODIs for India. The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament.
Varun made his ODI debut against England which followed the T20Is before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth.
It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Batting first, India were restricted to 249/9 in 50 overs with Henry picking up 5/42. New Zealand, however, could not chase the target and were dismissed for 205. Cricket Sports

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said that 'knowing the conditions' helped India win in last Champions Trophy group-stage match on Mar 2 in Dubai. With the win, India finished on top of Group A and will now face Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday (Mar 4) also in Dubai. “I think, obviously, the way to have four frontline spinners was a really effective way to play. I think having that luxury of knowing (conditions)…they played to the conditions beautifully. That was probably the challenge for us,” Henry said during the post-match press conference. “We knew that they were going to play the four spinners. They bowled beautifully. They read the situation and the conditions well. Yeah, unfortunately, we couldn’t get across the line,” he added. Also Watch – Kohli touches Axar Patel’s feet in light moment during New Zealand game in Dubai Batting first, India were restricted to 249/9 in 50 overs with Henry picking up 5/42. New Zealand, however, could not chase the target and were dismissed for 205. All four Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy took at least one wicket each as the Kiwis lost their first game of the tournament. For India, Chakaravarthy was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 5/42 in 10 overs - his first five-for in ODIs for India. The spinner has been a late inclusion in the India squad after his sensational performance in T20Is against England prior to the tournament. Varun made his ODI debut against England which followed the T20Is before being included in the Champions Trophy squad. The mystery spinner sat out first two games but was given a chance against New Zealand and proved his worth. It'll now be interesting to see the playing XI India select for the semi-final game against Australia because a bowler can't sit out after taking a five-for in only his second ODI.

Champions Trophy: 'Having that luxury...,' NZ pacer Henry brings up Dubai after loss against India

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/varun-chakaravarthy-has-got-something-different-creates-good-selection-headache-rohit-sharma-8772031" rel="dofollow">Varun Chakaravarthy knows how to tame his opponents</a> and make headlines. The right-arm mystery spinner produced a stunning match-winning performance against New Zealand in India&rsquo;s last league match in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> in Dubai, helping them stay at the top of Group A. He picked his maiden five-wicket haul (5/42) in the second innings, breaking several records and becoming the Indian with the best bowling figures on Champions Trophy debut.
Before Varun, ace seamer Mohammed Shami picked a five-for on his Champions Trophy debut against Bangladesh, attaining figures of (5/53). Varun&rsquo;s numbers, however, surpassed Shami on the list of Indian bowlers with the best bowling figures in this competition&rsquo;s first game. His performance was crucial to the game&rsquo;s result, where India won by 44 runs, maintaining their ODI winning streak this year.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-virat-kohli-touches-axar-patels-feet-in-light-moment-during-new-zealand-game-in-dubai-champions-trophy-8772662" rel="dofollow">Watch &ndash; Kohli touches Axar Patel&rsquo;s feet in light moment during New Zealand game in Dubai</a>
However, his spell remains the second-best bowling figure by an Indian bowler in Champions Trophy history, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravindra-jadeja" rel="dofollow">Ravindra Jadeja</a>&rsquo;s five for 26 against the West Indies in 2013 topping the chart.&nbsp;
Varun&rsquo;s 5/42 is also the second-best Champions Trophy debut figure, with Australia&rsquo;s Josh Hazlewood&rsquo;s 6/52 against the Kiwis (Edgbaston, 2017) being the best.&nbsp;
In another milestone, Varun became the quickest Indian to an ODI five-for, achieving this in only his second One-Dayer, while former all-rounder Stuart Binny&rsquo;s (6/4) against Bangladesh was the previous best, which came in his fourth ODI.&nbsp;
Besides, this game also made history as, for the first time in this tournament, two bowlers bagged identical figures (5/42), with Varun and New Zealand&rsquo;s Matt Henry being the ones.
<h2>'Seniors helped me'</h2>
Playing only his second One-Dayer, Varun admitted he was nervous at the start, but when the seniors approached him and started talking to him, it helped him calm down and take on the game.&nbsp;
&ldquo;First of all, I did feel nervous in the initial stages. I have not played many matches for India in the ODI format, but as the game went on, I felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas and Hardik were talking to me, and that helped. (On when he knew he was playing) I found out last night.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was definitely expecting to play for the country, but on the other hand, I was nervous. It was not a rank turner, but if you bowled in the right places, it offered assistance. The way Kuldeep, Jaddu, and Axar bowled, even the pace bowlers, it was a total team effort,&rdquo; Varun said after winning the Player of the Match award.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Playing only his second ODI, Varun admitted he was nervous at the start, but after the seniors approached him, it helped him calm down and take on the game.

Varun Chakaravarthy knows how to tame his opponents and make headlines. The right-arm mystery spinner produced a stunning match-winning performance against New Zealand in India’s last league match in Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, helping them stay at the top of Group A. He picked his maiden five-wicket haul (5/42) in the second innings, breaking several records and becoming the Indian with the best bowling figures on Champions Trophy debut. Before Varun, ace seamer Mohammed Shami picked a five-for on his Champions Trophy debut against Bangladesh, attaining figures of (5/53). Varun’s numbers, however, surpassed Shami on the list of Indian bowlers with the best bowling figures in this competition’s first game. His performance was crucial to the game’s result, where India won by 44 runs, maintaining their ODI winning streak this year. Also read | Watch – Kohli touches Axar Patel’s feet in light moment during New Zealand game in Dubai However, his spell remains the second-best bowling figure by an Indian bowler in Champions Trophy history, with Ravindra Jadeja’s five for 26 against the West Indies in 2013 topping the chart. Varun’s 5/42 is also the second-best Champions Trophy debut figure, with Australia’s Josh Hazlewood’s 6/52 against the Kiwis (Edgbaston, 2017) being the best. In another milestone, Varun became the quickest Indian to an ODI five-for, achieving this in only his second One-Dayer, while former all-rounder Stuart Binny’s (6/4) against Bangladesh was the previous best, which came in his fourth ODI. Besides, this game also made history as, for the first time in this tournament, two bowlers bagged identical figures (5/42), with Varun and New Zealand’s Matt Henry being the ones. 'Seniors helped me' Playing only his second One-Dayer, Varun admitted he was nervous at the start, but when the seniors approached him and started talking to him, it helped him calm down and take on the game. “First of all, I did feel nervous in the initial stages. I have not played many matches for India in the ODI format, but as the game went on, I felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas and Hardik were talking to me, and that helped. (On when he knew he was playing) I found out last night. “I was definitely expecting to play for the country, but on the other hand, I was nervous. It was not a rank turner, but if you bowled in the right places, it offered assistance. The way Kuldeep, Jaddu, and Axar bowled, even the pace bowlers, it was a total team effort,” Varun said after winning the Player of the Match award. (With inputs from agencies)

Varun attains best bowling figures for India on Champions Trophy debut, surpasses Shami

Ace India batter Virat Kohli touched Axar Patel&rsquo;s feet in a light moment during India vs New Zealand <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> tie in Dubai. On Sunday evening (Mar 2), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619" rel="dofollow">India beat the Kiwis by 44 runs</a> to finish at the top of Group A. However, during the second innings, after Axar removed Kane Williamson on the last ball of his spell, Kohli rushed to him to touch his feet, indicating how crucial Kane&rsquo;s dismissal was.
<h3>Watch the Video &ndash;</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7sm6cao-db94va8r-eca161mh">
Kohli touching Axar Patel's feet after he got Williamson out 😭<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxarPatel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxarPatel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsTrophy2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsTrophy2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/mJmgQ95Y15">pic.twitter.com/mJmgQ95Y15</a>
&mdash; Tarun Lulla (@ayotarun) <a href="https://twitter.com/ayotarun/status/1896229035870728223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
India batted first in their final league game in Dubai. After losing three wickets inside the Powerplay, including (that of) Kohli's, who got out caught at point (on 11) - courtesy of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/glenn-phillips-catch-reaction-kohli-stunned-anushka-holds-head-in-disbelief-watch-champions-trophy-dubai-8771134" rel="dofollow">Glenn Phillips&rsquo; blinder</a>, Axar and Shreyas steadied India&rsquo;s sinking ship. The pair added 98 runs for the fourth wicket before Axar miscued one off Rachin Ravindra on a well-made 42.&nbsp;
Hardik Pandya produced a stunning show at the end, and alongside Iyer&rsquo;s heroics (79), India scored 249 for nine in the first innings.
Spin was always going to play a massive role in this game, which it did as the Indian spinners picked nine of the ten fallen wickets. While mystery spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/varun-chakaravarthy-has-got-something-different-creates-good-selection-headache-rohit-sharma-8772031" rel="dofollow">Varun Chakaravarthy starred with the ball</a>, picking his maiden five-for, Patel&rsquo;s contribution was crucial (throughout).&nbsp;
The left-handed all-rounder grabbed a stunner earlier at the third man, accounting for Rachin before bowling a tighter spell of one for 32 in ten overs to help India win its group-stage match.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, (at a time) when Kane was busy stitching partnerships with the middle order, he looked like breaking India&rsquo;s streak. Batting on 81 in the 41st over, Kane looked composed at the crease, trying to find ways to score runs and cut the target deficit. Coming down the track to Axar on the last ball of his spell, Kane missed the line and length altogether, eventually walking off without looking back, with gloveman KL Rahul completing an easy stumping.
<h2>India to face Australia in semis</h2>
Beating New Zealand meant India&rsquo;s semis opponent would be Australia, facing them on Tuesday in Dubai.&nbsp;
While Australia emerged victorious against India in two ICC finals in 2023, beating them in the WTC Final and the ODI World Cup Final, the Men in Blue took revenge at last year&rsquo;s T20 World Cup in the Americas by beating them in the group stage. &nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Axar produced an all-round show against New Zealand in Dubai. While he scored a crucial 42 in the first innings, his tight spell in the second helped India win.

Ace India batter Virat Kohli touched Axar Patel’s feet in a light moment during India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy tie in Dubai. On Sunday evening (Mar 2), India beat the Kiwis by 44 runs to finish at the top of Group A. However, during the second innings, after Axar removed Kane Williamson on the last ball of his spell, Kohli rushed to him to touch his feet, indicating how crucial Kane’s dismissal was. Watch the Video – Kohli touching Axar Patel's feet after he got Williamson out 😭#Kohli #AxarPatel #INDvNZ #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/mJmgQ95Y15 — Tarun Lulla (@ayotarun) March 2, 2025 India batted first in their final league game in Dubai. After losing three wickets inside the Powerplay, including (that of) Kohli's, who got out caught at point (on 11) - courtesy of a Glenn Phillips’ blinder, Axar and Shreyas steadied India’s sinking ship. The pair added 98 runs for the fourth wicket before Axar miscued one off Rachin Ravindra on a well-made 42. Hardik Pandya produced a stunning show at the end, and alongside Iyer’s heroics (79), India scored 249 for nine in the first innings. Spin was always going to play a massive role in this game, which it did as the Indian spinners picked nine of the ten fallen wickets. While mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy starred with the ball, picking his maiden five-for, Patel’s contribution was crucial (throughout). The left-handed all-rounder grabbed a stunner earlier at the third man, accounting for Rachin before bowling a tighter spell of one for 32 in ten overs to help India win its group-stage match. Meanwhile, (at a time) when Kane was busy stitching partnerships with the middle order, he looked like breaking India’s streak. Batting on 81 in the 41st over, Kane looked composed at the crease, trying to find ways to score runs and cut the target deficit. Coming down the track to Axar on the last ball of his spell, Kane missed the line and length altogether, eventually walking off without looking back, with gloveman KL Rahul completing an easy stumping. India to face Australia in semis Beating New Zealand meant India’s semis opponent would be Australia, facing them on Tuesday in Dubai. While Australia emerged victorious against India in two ICC finals in 2023, beating them in the WTC Final and the ODI World Cup Final, the Men in Blue took revenge at last year’s T20 World Cup in the Americas by beating them in the group stage. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch – Kohli touches Axar Patel’s feet in light moment during New Zealand game in Dubai

Cricket Australia roped in all-rounder Cooper Connolly as Matt Short&rsquo;s replacement for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> knockouts. Short, who opened in this competition, suffered a quad injury against Afghanistan and got <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-australia-faces-setback-as-matthew-short-injured-ahead-of-semifinals-8767259" rel="dofollow">ruled out for being unable to recover in time</a> for the scheduled semis clash. The former two-time winners will face-off against India in the first semi-final on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai.
Spin was the focal point between the just-concluded India and New Zealand tie in Dubai, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619" rel="dofollow">India won by 44 runs</a>, with Indian spinners picking nine of the ten fallen wickets.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/varun-chakaravarthy-has-got-something-different-creates-good-selection-headache-rohit-sharma-8772031" rel="dofollow">Varun Chakaravarthy has got something different, creates good selection headache: Rohit Sharma</a>
Considering the conditions and how the pitch will likely behave (in the semis), the left-arm spinner Connolly could press his case for an ICC debut. He was part of the travelling reserves and was added to the main squad late Sunday night.
<h2>Selection headache for Australia</h2>
Australia is already without several first-team players, including star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (at the top) and the veteran pace trio of regular captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Even with a new and inexperienced bowling attack at the helm, Australia managed to qualify for the semis despite completing just one game in the group stages, with rain affecting the results in the remaining two.
Short, a last-minute addition to the squad, is also now ruled out, leaving Australia with just one spare batter in Jake Fraser-McGurk. Though he hasn't proved his mettle in the seven ODIs played (thus far), scoring 98 runs at 14, he is a like-to-like switch for Short at the top. In another scenario where Australia decide to play an extra spinner, it would be a toss-up between Connolly and Tanveer Sangha, the leg-spinner.
<h3>Zampa addresses Dubai conditions</h3>
Unlike India, who stayed in one city and played all their matches there, Australia, among the seven remaining participating teams, travelled across two cities (Lahore and Rawalpindi in Pakistan) for their league matches before flying to Dubai for the crucial semis clash.
Commenting on playing in different conditions with the marquee players&rsquo; limitation, Zampa said the selection headache will remain whilst addressing what it&rsquo;s like bowling in Dubai and Pakistan.&nbsp;
"We've obviously had a bit of a hectic schedule, playing a couple of games in Pakistan, back and forth in between cities, but I think with the nature of this tournament," Zampa said.
"It changes a little bit," Zampa said of the conditions between Pakistan and Dubai. "Potentially slower lower wickets, so there might be an opportunity to create a few more chances, we'll see,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: The former two-time winners Australia will face off against India in the first semi-final of Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai.

Cricket Australia roped in all-rounder Cooper Connolly as Matt Short’s replacement for the Champions Trophy knockouts. Short, who opened in this competition, suffered a quad injury against Afghanistan and got ruled out for being unable to recover in time for the scheduled semis clash. The former two-time winners will face-off against India in the first semi-final on Tuesday (Mar 4) in Dubai. Spin was the focal point between the just-concluded India and New Zealand tie in Dubai, which India won by 44 runs, with Indian spinners picking nine of the ten fallen wickets. Also read | Varun Chakaravarthy has got something different, creates good selection headache: Rohit Sharma Considering the conditions and how the pitch will likely behave (in the semis), the left-arm spinner Connolly could press his case for an ICC debut. He was part of the travelling reserves and was added to the main squad late Sunday night. Selection headache for Australia Australia is already without several first-team players, including star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (at the top) and the veteran pace trio of regular captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Even with a new and inexperienced bowling attack at the helm, Australia managed to qualify for the semis despite completing just one game in the group stages, with rain affecting the results in the remaining two. Short, a last-minute addition to the squad, is also now ruled out, leaving Australia with just one spare batter in Jake Fraser-McGurk. Though he hasn't proved his mettle in the seven ODIs played (thus far), scoring 98 runs at 14, he is a like-to-like switch for Short at the top. In another scenario where Australia decide to play an extra spinner, it would be a toss-up between Connolly and Tanveer Sangha, the leg-spinner. Zampa addresses Dubai conditions Unlike India, who stayed in one city and played all their matches there, Australia, among the seven remaining participating teams, travelled across two cities (Lahore and Rawalpindi in Pakistan) for their league matches before flying to Dubai for the crucial semis clash. Commenting on playing in different conditions with the marquee players’ limitation, Zampa said the selection headache will remain whilst addressing what it’s like bowling in Dubai and Pakistan. "We've obviously had a bit of a hectic schedule, playing a couple of games in Pakistan, back and forth in between cities, but I think with the nature of this tournament," Zampa said. "It changes a little bit," Zampa said of the conditions between Pakistan and Dubai. "Potentially slower lower wickets, so there might be an opportunity to create a few more chances, we'll see,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia announce Short’s replacement for Champions Trophy knockouts

India defeat New Zealand by 44 runs, set up semis clash with Australia

India secured a semifinal showdown with Australia in the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> after a commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy stole the spotlight, claiming a stellar 5-42 in just his second ODI, the best bowling figures of the tournament so far. His efforts helped India bowl out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs, ensuring they topped Group A.
<h2 data-start="616" data-end="644">Chakaravarthy&rsquo;s Impact</h2>
India&rsquo;s decision to include <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Chakaravarthy</a> paid off handsomely, with skipper Rohit Sharma explaining the rationale behind the selection.
"Varun brings something different to the table, and we wanted to see what he could offer. Now, we have a good headache ahead of the next game. If he gets it right, he&rsquo;s very difficult to read," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit</a> said in the post-match presentation.
Chakaravarthy, who was named Player of the Match, admitted he was initially nervous but gained confidence as the game progressed.
"I was nervous early on, having not played many ODIs for India. But as the match went on, I felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, and Hardik all encouraged me to stay calm. I found out last night that I would be playing, so I was excited but also a bit anxious. The pitch wasn&rsquo;t a rank turner, but if you bowled in the right areas, it helped. It was a complete team effort with Kuldeep, Jadeja, Axar, and even the pacers contributing," he said.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer&rsquo;s composed 79, along with a crucial 98-run stand with Axar Patel (42), guided India to a competitive total.
"Finishing strong was important. New Zealand is a quality team and has been playing well recently. After losing early wickets, the Axar-Shreyas partnership was crucial. With our strong bowling attack, we were confident in defending the total," Rohit added.
India will now face Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai, a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where India fell short. Rohit acknowledged the challenge ahead.
"Mistakes happen, but what matters is correcting them. Australia has a great track record in ICC tournaments, so we must focus on executing our plans well. Looking forward to the game and hoping to turn things in our favour this time," he said.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will face South Africa in the second semifinal at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-santner">Mitchell Santner</a> admitted the pitch conditions in Dubai caught them off guard.
"The wicket was slower than expected and turned more than in previous games. India controlled the middle overs well. Shreyas batted superbly, and Hardik finished strongly. With four quality spinners, they made it tough for us," Santner said.
As both teams prepare for the knockout stage, the stakes are higher than ever. With India and Australia set for a thrilling battle, cricket fans can expect a high-voltage encounter in Dubai.

Sports, Cricket: Chakaravarthy, who was named Player of the Match, admitted he was initially nervous but gained confidence as the game progressed.

India secured a semifinal showdown with Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy after a commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy stole the spotlight, claiming a stellar 5-42 in just his second ODI, the best bowling figures of the tournament so far. His efforts helped India bowl out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs, ensuring they topped Group A. Chakaravarthy’s Impact India’s decision to include Chakaravarthy paid off handsomely, with skipper Rohit Sharma explaining the rationale behind the selection. "Varun brings something different to the table, and we wanted to see what he could offer. Now, we have a good headache ahead of the next game. If he gets it right, he’s very difficult to read," Rohit said in the post-match presentation. Chakaravarthy, who was named Player of the Match, admitted he was initially nervous but gained confidence as the game progressed. "I was nervous early on, having not played many ODIs for India. But as the match went on, I felt better. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, and Hardik all encouraged me to stay calm. I found out last night that I would be playing, so I was excited but also a bit anxious. The pitch wasn’t a rank turner, but if you bowled in the right areas, it helped. It was a complete team effort with Kuldeep, Jadeja, Axar, and even the pacers contributing," he said. Earlier, Shreyas Iyer’s composed 79, along with a crucial 98-run stand with Axar Patel (42), guided India to a competitive total. "Finishing strong was important. New Zealand is a quality team and has been playing well recently. After losing early wickets, the Axar-Shreyas partnership was crucial. With our strong bowling attack, we were confident in defending the total," Rohit added. India will now face Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai, a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where India fell short. Rohit acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Mistakes happen, but what matters is correcting them. Australia has a great track record in ICC tournaments, so we must focus on executing our plans well. Looking forward to the game and hoping to turn things in our favour this time," he said. New Zealand, on the other hand, will face South Africa in the second semifinal at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Captain Mitchell Santner admitted the pitch conditions in Dubai caught them off guard. "The wicket was slower than expected and turned more than in previous games. India controlled the middle overs well. Shreyas batted superbly, and Hardik finished strongly. With four quality spinners, they made it tough for us," Santner said. As both teams prepare for the knockout stage, the stakes are higher than ever. With India and Australia set for a thrilling battle, cricket fans can expect a high-voltage encounter in Dubai.

Varun Chakaravarthy has got something different, creates good selection headache: Rohit Sharma

Former South African speedster <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/dale-steyn">Dale Steyn</a> has named Allan Donald's bowling action as his favourite. While Steyn often leaned towards former Australian quick Brett Lee, he ultimately chose the legendary South African pacer.
In a video posted by ESPNcricinfo on X, Steyn consistently picked Lee when asked to choose between the Australian and other greats like Shoaib Akhtar, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/wasim-akram">Wasim Akram</a>, Jasprit Bumrah, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/zaheer-khan">Zaheer Khan</a>. However, he briefly changed his choice when comparing Lee to former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond. Despite this, his final pick was Allan Donald, renowned for his smooth action and express pace.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ahead-of-semifinal-australias-batters-fine-tune-against-spin-8771715" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy: Ahead of semifinal, Australia&rsquo;s batters fine-tune against spin</a>
Donald, a key figure in South African cricket from 1991 to 2003, was a world-class bowler despite injuries affecting the latter part of his career. He retired after South Africa's exit from the 2003 World Cup. In 75 Tests, he claimed 330 wickets at an average of 22.25 and a strike rate of 47.0. In ODIs, he bagged 272 wickets in 164 matches at an average of 21.78.
<h2 data-start="619" data-end="986">Remarkable career for Steyn</h2>
Steyn himself enjoyed a remarkable career. In 93 Tests, he took 439 wickets at an average of 22.95, with best figures of 7/51. He also registered 27 four-wicket hauls, 26 five-wicket hauls, and five ten-wicket hauls. Holding the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014, he was a dominant force in world cricket.
In ODIs, Steyn played 125 matches, taking 196 wickets at an average of 25.95, with best figures of 6/39. He remains South Africa&rsquo;s fifth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, with Shaun Pollock leading the charts with 387 wickets. In T20Is, he took 64 wickets in 47 matches at an average of 18.35 and an economy rate of 6.94. His best figures in the format were 4/9, making him South Africa&rsquo;s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is behind Tabraiz Shamsi (74 wickets).
Across all formats, Steyn claimed 699 international wickets at an average of 23.37, with best figures of 7/51. He recorded 29 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls, ranking second behind Pollock (823 wickets) as South Africa&rsquo;s highest wicket-taker in international cricket.

Cricket, Sports: The former South African pacer preferred Brett Lee's action even when he had to choose between Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Jasprit Bumrah or Zaheer Khan

Former South African speedster Dale Steyn has named Allan Donald's bowling action as his favourite. While Steyn often leaned towards former Australian quick Brett Lee, he ultimately chose the legendary South African pacer. In a video posted by ESPNcricinfo on X, Steyn consistently picked Lee when asked to choose between the Australian and other greats like Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Jasprit Bumrah, and Zaheer Khan. However, he briefly changed his choice when comparing Lee to former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond. Despite this, his final pick was Allan Donald, renowned for his smooth action and express pace. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Ahead of semifinal, Australia’s batters fine-tune against spin Donald, a key figure in South African cricket from 1991 to 2003, was a world-class bowler despite injuries affecting the latter part of his career. He retired after South Africa's exit from the 2003 World Cup. In 75 Tests, he claimed 330 wickets at an average of 22.25 and a strike rate of 47.0. In ODIs, he bagged 272 wickets in 164 matches at an average of 21.78. Remarkable career for Steyn Steyn himself enjoyed a remarkable career. In 93 Tests, he took 439 wickets at an average of 22.95, with best figures of 7/51. He also registered 27 four-wicket hauls, 26 five-wicket hauls, and five ten-wicket hauls. Holding the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014, he was a dominant force in world cricket. In ODIs, Steyn played 125 matches, taking 196 wickets at an average of 25.95, with best figures of 6/39. He remains South Africa’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, with Shaun Pollock leading the charts with 387 wickets. In T20Is, he took 64 wickets in 47 matches at an average of 18.35 and an economy rate of 6.94. His best figures in the format were 4/9, making him South Africa’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is behind Tabraiz Shamsi (74 wickets). Across all formats, Steyn claimed 699 international wickets at an average of 23.37, with best figures of 7/51. He recorded 29 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls, ranking second behind Pollock (823 wickets) as South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in international cricket.

Dale Steyn reveals his favourite bowling action – and it’s not Wasim or Bumrah‘s!

New Zealand pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/matt-henry">Matt Henry</a> delivered a stunning performance in Dubai, claiming a five-wicket haul against a formidable Indian side in the final group-stage match of the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> on Sunday. With this feat, Henry surpassed the legendary Richard Hadlee to become New Zealand&rsquo;s eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODI history.
Henry&rsquo;s fiery spell of 5/42 dismantled India&rsquo;s batting lineup, taking his overall tally to 163 wickets in 90 matches at an impressive average of 24.85 and a strike rate of 28.78. His victims included key Indian batters&mdash;Shubman Gill, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja&mdash;before capping off his spell by dismissing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a> on the final ball of the innings.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/live-score-online-ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-new-zealand-live-today-cricket-match-from-dubai-toss-ball-by-ball-commentary-8770619">Highlights | IND vs NZ Highlights Cricket Score: India wins by 44 runs; will play Australia in semis</a>
The seasoned right-arm quick continued his dominance in the powerplay, where he has now taken 10 wickets against India at an average of 20.20, a strike rate of 28.8, and an economy of 4.20.
Henry made an instant impact by dismissing an in-form Shubman Gill for just two runs with a sharp nip-backer that trapped him in front of the stumps. He then removed Kohli, who was playing his milestone 300th ODI, thanks to Glenn Phillips' sensational one-handed catch at point.
As India attempted to rebuild, Henry struck again, breaking a promising partnership between Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. A back-of-length delivery forced Jadeja into a cut shot, which Kane Williamson intercepted with a brilliant diving catch at backward point. When Pandya looked set to push India towards a massive total, Henry deceived him with a change of pace, leading to an ill-timed shot straight into the hands of Rachin Ravindra at deep square leg.
<h2 data-start="1320" data-end="1784">India win</h2>
New Zealand fell to India's spin ploy as the Rohit Sharma-led side ended at the top of Group A with a 44-run victory in Dubai on Sunday.&nbsp;India decided to drop Harshit Rana and field four spinners for their final group-stage game before the semifinals. The decision worked wonders as India's ball tweakers spun New Zealand batters inside out to defend its 249-run target successfully.

Cricket, Sports: The seasoned right-arm quick continued his dominance in the powerplay, where he has now taken 10 wickets against India at an average of 20.20 and economy of 4.20

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry delivered a stunning performance in Dubai, claiming a five-wicket haul against a formidable Indian side in the final group-stage match of the ongoing Champions Trophy on Sunday. With this feat, Henry surpassed the legendary Richard Hadlee to become New Zealand’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODI history. Henry’s fiery spell of 5/42 dismantled India’s batting lineup, taking his overall tally to 163 wickets in 90 matches at an impressive average of 24.85 and a strike rate of 28.78. His victims included key Indian batters—Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja—before capping off his spell by dismissing Mohammed Shami on the final ball of the innings. Also Read: Highlights | IND vs NZ Highlights Cricket Score: India wins by 44 runs; will play Australia in semis The seasoned right-arm quick continued his dominance in the powerplay, where he has now taken 10 wickets against India at an average of 20.20, a strike rate of 28.8, and an economy of 4.20. Henry made an instant impact by dismissing an in-form Shubman Gill for just two runs with a sharp nip-backer that trapped him in front of the stumps. He then removed Kohli, who was playing his milestone 300th ODI, thanks to Glenn Phillips' sensational one-handed catch at point. As India attempted to rebuild, Henry struck again, breaking a promising partnership between Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. A back-of-length delivery forced Jadeja into a cut shot, which Kane Williamson intercepted with a brilliant diving catch at backward point. When Pandya looked set to push India towards a massive total, Henry deceived him with a change of pace, leading to an ill-timed shot straight into the hands of Rachin Ravindra at deep square leg. India win New Zealand fell to India's spin ploy as the Rohit Sharma-led side ended at the top of Group A with a 44-run victory in Dubai on Sunday. India decided to drop Harshit Rana and field four spinners for their final group-stage game before the semifinals. The decision worked wonders as India's ball tweakers spun New Zealand batters inside out to defend its 249-run target successfully.

Champions Trophy 2025: Matt Henry breaks legendary Richard Hadlee's ODI record for New Zealand

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: The last group stage fixture of Champions Trophy 2025 is being played in Dubai on Sunday (Mar 2). Both, India and New Zealand are at four points each from their two wins so far. The winner of today's match will decide who finishes on top of Group A the semi-final match-ups as well.
<h2>Ind vs NZ Live Score Updates</h2>
If India wins, they will play Australia - the second placed team in Group B - in first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai. Shall they lose, they will play South Africa - top team in Group B - in the first semi-final in Dubai.
As for New Zealand, irrespective of their win or loss, they'll play in the second semi-final in Lahore on March 5. The different venues are because of the hybrid model adopted for the tournament.
<h2>India vs New Zealand Live Cricket Match Score&nbsp;</h2>
Under the hybrid model, India play all its matches in Dubai including the semi-final and the final (Mar 9) if they make it. This was done after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the team to Pakistan due to political tensions between two countries.
Shall India reach the final, it'll be their third consecutive one in the ICC tournaments after 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup.
<h2>Follow India vs New Zealand Live Match Score Updates Below:</h2>

That's all for today from us. We'll be back tomorrow with more updates and info on the Champions Trophy 2025, until then stay with us for complete coverage of the ICC tournament.
This live blog has ended.

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: India to play Australia in first semi-final on March 4

Varun's five-wicket haul helped India register a comfortable 44-run win over New Zealand. India will now face Australia on March 4 in first semi-final.

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: India wins by 44 runs

Varun's five-for has put India on the verge of winning against New Zealand

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: India a wicket away from win

With the last ten overs remaining, New Zealand need 85 runs to win. New Zealand will be hopeful as Kane Williamson is at the crease and is unbeaten at 80 runs off 118 balls
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;167/6 (40 overs)

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: 10 overs to go, New Zealand need 85 runs to win.

Third wicket for Varun as he dismisses Michael Bracewell
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;159/6 (37.1 overs)

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: WICKET!

Varun is at it again! He sends back Glenn Phillips for 8 runs off 12 balls. New Zealand need 99 runs in 86 balls.
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;151/5 (35.4 overs)

Ravindra Jadeja strikes as Tom Latham departs for 14 runs
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;134/4 (32.3 overs)
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Chasing down the target of 249 runs, New Zealand are 129/3 at the end of 30 overs. Kane Williamson, who is unbeaten at 63 off 88 balls is at the crease along with Tom Latham, who is unbeaten at 14 off 19 balls.
Score:
New Zealand: 129/3 (30 overs)

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: After 30 overs, New Zealand 129/3

The Kiwis brought their 100 runs in the 25th over of the innings. Kane Williamson is unbeaten at 45 off 73 balls along with Tom Latham.
Score:
New Zealand: 105/3 (26.3 overs)

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: 100 up for New Zealand

Kuldeep Yadav strikes for India as Daryl Mitchell walks back to the pavilion.
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;93/3 (25.1 overs)

After the end of 20 overs, New Zealand are in driving seat with Kane Williamson and Daryl Mithcell at the crease.
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;87/2 (21 overs)

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: After 20 overs, New Zealand steady in run chase

Varun Chakaravarthy sends Will Young packing for 22 runs.
Score:
New Zealand:&nbsp;&nbsp;49/2 (11.3 overs)

New Zealand lose their first wicket as Rachin Ravindra falls for 6 runs to Hardik Pandya. Axar Patel dives forward to take a brilliant catch
Score:
New Zealand: 17/1 (4.1 overs)
Rachin Ravindra c Patel b Pandya 6 (12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

Blackcaps have opened the innings with Rachin Ravindra and Will Young. They are chasing target of 249 run set by India.

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: New Zealand start their innings

Sensational bowling performance by New Zealand as they stop India at 249/9 in 50 overs. For India, only Shreyas Iyer (79), Axar Patel (42) and somewhat Hardik Pandya (45) could some runs while others just got the start and then lost the wicket.
IND: 249/9 (Iyer 79, Henry 5/42)
Join us in about 40 for the chase.

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: India finish at 249/9 in 50 overs

Oh My Williamson!&nbsp;These Kwisi can certanly fly as Williamson takes a diving catch at point to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja.
Ravindra Jadeja c Williamson b Henry 16
Score:
IND: 223/7 in 46 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: WICKET!!

RAHUL gone!&nbsp;A brilliant ball by Kiwi skip Santner as he takes out Rahul at crucial moment. A good catch by Latham as well. Last 10 to go, let's see how much India score.
KL Rahul c &dagger;Latham b Santner 23
Score:
IND:&nbsp;185/6 in 40 overs
&nbsp;

Iyer out!&nbsp;Another good catch by the Kiwis as Iyer goes back for a well-made 79. Hardik Pandya joins KL Rahul on the crease.
Shreyas Iyer c Young b O'Rourke 79
Score:
IND:&nbsp;172/5 in 36.2 overs

Iyer is key for India here as he continues his good form and has added 42 runs with KL Rahul for the fifth wicket. With last 14 overs remaining, India would like to add at least 100 runs more to their total.
Score:
IND: 170/4 in 36 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: Iyer keeps cruising

Axar departs! He had added 99 runs with Shreyas but a top edge coupled with a good catch by Willamson ended the innings.
Axar Patel c Williamson b Ravindra 42
Score:
IND: 128/4 in 29.2 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates:  WICKET!!!

Some balance returning to the game as Iyer and Axar's partnership crosses 50 and the duo now look to capitalize on good work done.
Score:
IND: 90/3 in 23 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: Iyer, Axar put up 50 stand

Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel have made sure India don't lose anymore wickets after top three as they continue the rebuilding process. The duo, however, are batting slowly at the moment to negate the Kiwi advantage.
Score:
IND: 46/3 in 15 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: Shreyas, Iyer rebuild for India

WHAT A CATCH by GLENN PHILLIPS!&nbsp;Kohli slashed it hard to point where Phillis flew to his right and plucked the ball out of thin air - third wicket down for India before 50!
Virat Kohli c Phillips b Henry 11&nbsp;
Score:
IND: 30/3 in 6.4 overs

Rohit goes and India lose second wicket! The skipper tries to pull Jamieson but the ball was a bit high and caught easily at leg-point. New Zealand making early inroads.
Rohit Sharma c Young b Jamieson 15
Score:
IND: 22/2 in 5.1 overs
&nbsp;

India lose thier first wicket as Gill gets trapped LBW against the tun of play. A regular ball drifting towards leg as he misses the flick and found plumb. India lose review as well.
Shubman Gill lbw b Henry 2
Score:
IND: 15/1 in 2.5 overs

Some good bowling early on has made sure India openers remain watchful in the first two overs. Just one boundary so far but Rohit and Gill look good.
Score:
IND: 7/0 in 2 overs

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: India tentative in start

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: Playing XI

New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke

New Zealand win toss and elect to bowl first in Dubai against India.

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: Toss

IND vs NZ Highlights Score Updates: The winner of the match will top the Group A. If India win, they play Australia in semis and will South Africa if they lose today. Cricket Sports

IND vs NZ Live Score Updates: The last group stage fixture of Champions Trophy 2025 is being played in Dubai on Sunday (Mar 2). Both, India and New Zealand are at four points each from their two wins so far. The winner of today's match will decide who finishes on top of Group A the semi-final match-ups as well. Ind vs NZ Live Score Updates If India wins, they will play Australia - the second placed team in Group B - in first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai. Shall they lose, they will play South Africa - top team in Group B - in the first semi-final in Dubai. As for New Zealand, irrespective of their win or loss, they'll play in the second semi-final in Lahore on March 5. The different venues are because of the hybrid model adopted for the tournament. India vs New Zealand Live Cricket Match Score Under the hybrid model, India play all its matches in Dubai including the semi-final and the final (Mar 9) if they make it. This was done after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the team to Pakistan due to political tensions between two countries. Shall India reach the final, it'll be their third consecutive one in the ICC tournaments after 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup. Follow India vs New Zealand Live Match Score Updates Below:

Highlights | IND vs NZ Highlights Cricket Score: India wins by 44 runs; will play Australia in semis

Australia had an intense three-hour practice session at the ICC Academy on Sunday (March 2) afternoon, focusing on their approach against spin bowling.
While experienced players like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/steve-smith">Steve Smith</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> had a light batting session, the younger members of the squad went all out. To sharpen their skills, the team enlisted seven ICC Academy-based net bowlers&mdash;all spinners&mdash;including 20-year-old UAE slow left-arm orthodox bowler Harshit Seth. The group also featured two left-arm wrist spinners (chinaman), two off-spinners, and a leg spinner.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-angle-quality-variety-make-south-africas-bowling-attack-complete-says-former-india-spinner-8771599">Champions Trophy: 'Angle, quality &amp; variety' make South Africa's bowling attack complete, says former India spinner</a>
Having finished second in Group B behind South Africa, Australia is currently training in the UAE as both teams await their semifinal opponents. Australia will take on the Group A table-toppers&mdash;either India or New Zealand&mdash;in their last-four clash.
The first semifinal, featuring India, is set for Tuesday in Dubai, while the second will be played in Lahore on Wednesday.
Reflecting on the training session, spinner Harshit Seth shared that the Australian batters instructed the net bowlers to maintain a specific length that would encourage them to drive and flick.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Australia, South Africa to travel to UAE to avoid lack of preparation<o:p></o:p></h2>
Under the hybrid model, the opponent paired up with India in the semifinal will play in Dubai, while the opponent paired up with New Zealand will play in Lahore. However, the final positions of neither India nor New Zealand are guaranteed, meaning their opponents are yet to be determined in the semis. In this case, to avoid a lack of preparation and logistical issues, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc">International Cricket Council</a> (ICC) has decided to fly both Australia and South Africa to the UAE.
In this scenario, the team paired with India will stay in the UAE to play their semifinal clash on Tuesday (Mar 4) while the team that will be paired with New Zealand will travel back to Pakistan.

Cricket, Sports: The Australian team opted for seven ICC academy-based net bowlers, all spinners, including slow left-arm orthodox Harshit Seth, a 20-year-old UAE player

Australia had an intense three-hour practice session at the ICC Academy on Sunday (March 2) afternoon, focusing on their approach against spin bowling. While experienced players like Steve Smith and Travis Head had a light batting session, the younger members of the squad went all out. To sharpen their skills, the team enlisted seven ICC Academy-based net bowlers—all spinners—including 20-year-old UAE slow left-arm orthodox bowler Harshit Seth. The group also featured two left-arm wrist spinners (chinaman), two off-spinners, and a leg spinner. Also Read: Champions Trophy: 'Angle, quality & variety' make South Africa's bowling attack complete, says former India spinner Having finished second in Group B behind South Africa, Australia is currently training in the UAE as both teams await their semifinal opponents. Australia will take on the Group A table-toppers—either India or New Zealand—in their last-four clash. The first semifinal, featuring India, is set for Tuesday in Dubai, while the second will be played in Lahore on Wednesday. Reflecting on the training session, spinner Harshit Seth shared that the Australian batters instructed the net bowlers to maintain a specific length that would encourage them to drive and flick. Australia, South Africa to travel to UAE to avoid lack of preparation Under the hybrid model, the opponent paired up with India in the semifinal will play in Dubai, while the opponent paired up with New Zealand will play in Lahore. However, the final positions of neither India nor New Zealand are guaranteed, meaning their opponents are yet to be determined in the semis. In this case, to avoid a lack of preparation and logistical issues, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to fly both Australia and South Africa to the UAE. In this scenario, the team paired with India will stay in the UAE to play their semifinal clash on Tuesday (Mar 4) while the team that will be paired with New Zealand will travel back to Pakistan.

Champions Trophy: Ahead of semifinal, Australia’s batters fine-tune against spin

India finds itself in a tough spot as New Zealand takes control of the Group A clash. After being sent in to bat first in Dubai, India slumped to 182/6, with key wickets falling early. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were dismissed inside six overs, while Shreyas Iyer fought hard with a crucial 79 before getting out. Can India fight back, or will New Zealand seal the game?

India struggles as New Zealand dominates group a clash

Former India spinner and head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/anil-kumble">Anil Kumble</a> believes South Africa's pace trio&mdash;Marco Jansen, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kagiso-rabada">Kagiso Rabada</a>, and Lungi Ngidi&mdash;possess the variety needed to dominate even in batting-friendly conditions, as demonstrated in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a>.
On Saturday (March 1), the unbeaten Proteas secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding victory over England, maintaining their position at the top of Group B. They started their campaign with a resounding 107-run win against Afghanistan, followed by a washed-out second fixture, before sealing their group stage with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Three Lions.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-fighting-spirit-energy-and-passion-make-him-a-great-says-former-west-indies-batting-legend-8771489">'Virat Kohli's fighting spirit, energy and passion make him a great', says former West Indies batting legend</a>
South Africa&rsquo;s pace attack has been instrumental in their success, restricting England to 179 and Afghanistan to 208&mdash;the two lowest totals in the tournament so far.
"I think one good thing about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers that played today&mdash;of course, Mulder is the one who bowls in the middle overs&mdash;but if you look at the three tall fast bowlers, all of them are really tall. And all of them are different," Kumble was quoted saying on ESPNcricinfo&rsquo;s Match Day show.
<h2 data-start="803" data-end="1121">South Africa's lethal trio attack</h2>
The trio of Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen has taken 11 wickets in just two matches, making them one of the most effective pace attacks in the tournament.
"Their angles are very different. Rabada is very classical, whereas Ngidi&rsquo;s action makes him awkward to face, and Marco Jansen comes at such height. So, all three are very different, and that&rsquo;s exactly what you want in one-day cricket&mdash;variation," Kumble added.
"Even on a flat track, it&rsquo;s not easy for batters to line them up because of their distinct styles. That&rsquo;s something South Africa can feel confident about as they head into the knockout stage," he said.
Jansen, the towering left-arm pacer, spearheaded South Africa&rsquo;s bowling attack against England on a lifeless Karachi pitch. Using his height to generate bounce, he dismantled England&rsquo;s top order in the powerplay, putting his team in firm control.
"I think he's still very young, although he has played quite a lot of cricket. He has certainly matured. These three wickets will give him confidence. You can also see his athleticism in the field with his catches," Kumble said.
"He has improved a lot with his batting as well, contributing on many occasions for South Africa. In that sense, he&rsquo;s a complete package at No. 7 or No. 8. And with the ball, he can swing the new ball back in, making it difficult for batters to handle him," Kumble noted.
"We saw that with Phil Salt&mdash;it just took off steeply, and he couldn&rsquo;t get over it. That&rsquo;s the kind of variety you need in your bowling attack, and South Africa has plenty of it," he signed off.

Cricket, Sports: The unbeaten Proteas secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding victory over England, maintaining their position at the top of Group B

Former India spinner and head coach Anil Kumble believes South Africa's pace trio—Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi—possess the variety needed to dominate even in batting-friendly conditions, as demonstrated in the ongoing Champions Trophy. On Saturday (March 1), the unbeaten Proteas secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding victory over England, maintaining their position at the top of Group B. They started their campaign with a resounding 107-run win against Afghanistan, followed by a washed-out second fixture, before sealing their group stage with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Three Lions. Also Read: 'Virat Kohli's fighting spirit, energy and passion make him a great', says former West Indies batting legend South Africa’s pace attack has been instrumental in their success, restricting England to 179 and Afghanistan to 208—the two lowest totals in the tournament so far. "I think one good thing about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers that played today—of course, Mulder is the one who bowls in the middle overs—but if you look at the three tall fast bowlers, all of them are really tall. And all of them are different," Kumble was quoted saying on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day show. South Africa's lethal trio attack The trio of Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen has taken 11 wickets in just two matches, making them one of the most effective pace attacks in the tournament. "Their angles are very different. Rabada is very classical, whereas Ngidi’s action makes him awkward to face, and Marco Jansen comes at such height. So, all three are very different, and that’s exactly what you want in one-day cricket—variation," Kumble added. "Even on a flat track, it’s not easy for batters to line them up because of their distinct styles. That’s something South Africa can feel confident about as they head into the knockout stage," he said. Jansen, the towering left-arm pacer, spearheaded South Africa’s bowling attack against England on a lifeless Karachi pitch. Using his height to generate bounce, he dismantled England’s top order in the powerplay, putting his team in firm control. "I think he's still very young, although he has played quite a lot of cricket. He has certainly matured. These three wickets will give him confidence. You can also see his athleticism in the field with his catches," Kumble said. "He has improved a lot with his batting as well, contributing on many occasions for South Africa. In that sense, he’s a complete package at No. 7 or No. 8. And with the ball, he can swing the new ball back in, making it difficult for batters to handle him," Kumble noted. "We saw that with Phil Salt—it just took off steeply, and he couldn’t get over it. That’s the kind of variety you need in your bowling attack, and South Africa has plenty of it," he signed off.

Champions Trophy: ‘Angle, quality & variety’ make South Africa’s bowling attack complete, says former India spinner

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