Image: After Patel’s dismissal of Williamson, Virat Kohli touched his feet in admiration / © NDTV Sports
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reaching its crucial stages, the India National Cricket Team secured a dominant 44-run victory over the New Zealand National Cricket Team in their final league match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Axar Patel played a crucial role, scoring 42 runs when India was struggling at 30/3. He later dismissed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at a key moment, leading to a viral moment where Virat Kohli humorously touched Axar’s feet in admiration.
India posted a total of 249 runs on a slow pitch, with Shreyas Iyer (72) providing crucial support. On the bowling front, Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul dismantled New Zealand’s chase, restricting them to 205. India finished the group stage undefeated, winning all three matches, and will now face Australia in the semi-final on March 4.
With strong performances from key players, India looks well-prepared for the knockout stage. Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the all-round contributions from Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy have been instrumental in their success so far. The upcoming semi-final against Australia promises to be an exciting clash as India aims to continue their unbeaten run and secure a spot in the final.