Champions Trophy: India down New Zealand to seal top spot in Group A

Both teams were already sure of their semi-final berths heading into Sunday's clash in Dubai, where a vociferous crowd backed India and celebrated a convincing victory.

The spinners were crucial for India, with nine out of 10 wickets taken by those bowlers.

Varun Chakravarthy was the star of the show, taking 5-42 to bring up his first ODI five-for in just his second 50-over match.

India needed their bowlers on form, though, as they had managed 249-9 across their 50 overs - a respectable target, but New Zealand have been in sensational form over recent weeks.

Shreyas Iyer plundered 79, and his innings was needed after Matt Henry (5-42) and Kyle Jamieson (1-31) ran through India's top order inside the first seven overs.

Axar Patel contributed a useful 42, while Hardik Pandya scored 45 before falling to Henry, who also dismissed Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami to round off India's innings.

New Zealand's top order did not suffer the same fate as India's - Rachin Ravindra fell early to Pandya (1-22), but it was the 12th over by the time Will Young (22) was bowled by Varun.

Kane Williamson turned in an excellent knock of 81, but as New Zealand plodded along, they had only reached 93 by the time Daryl Mitchell (17) was pinned lbw by Kuldeep Yadav (2-56) in the 26th over.

Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips could not manage to get going, and once Williamson succumbed to Patel (1-32) to leave the Black Caps 169-7, they were very much up against it.

Mitchell Santner struck a brisk 28 before Varun again did the damage, and while Kyle Jamieson smashed a big six, it was not enough as India secured victory when Yadav bowled Will O'Rourke.

For guiding #TeamIndia to their third win and getting five wickets, Varun Chakaravarthy is the Player of the MatchScoreboard https://t.co/Ba4AY30p5i#NZvIND | #ChampionsTrophy | @chakaravarthy29 pic.twitter.com/ex29tpCyI9

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2025

Virat Kohli did not have the best day with the bat, scoring only 11, but this big win was a fitting way for the India great to mark his 300th ODI.

Williamson, meanwhile, was hugely unfortunate to be on the losing side.

He is now just 10 runs away from surpassing Stephen Fleming (441) as the all-time leading run scorer for New Zealand in Champions Trophy history. He has now scored 60+ in three of his last four ODI innings against India (94*, 0*, 69, 81).