New Zealand Sets 251 Target for India; Thrilling Second Half Confirmed

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final has reached halftime at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with New Zealand posting 251 for 7 in their 50 overs against a resilient Indian bowling unit. Captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry, spin-friendly pitch, but India’s spinners and pacers fought back after a promising Kiwi start, setting up a tantalizing chase under the Dubai lights.

New Zealand’s innings kicked off with flair as openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra blazed to 57 in 10 overs. Ravindra, in scintillating form after a semifinal ton, struck elegant boundaries, while Young attacked early. Mohammed Shami halted their charge, dismissing Young for 29 with a searing yorker. Kuldeep Yadav then turned the game, removing Ravindra for 37 with a skidding wrong’un and later trapping Kane Williamson for a shaky 15, leaving the Blackcaps at 85 for 3 after 16 overs, as noted in X posts.

Daryl Mitchell anchored the middle order with a gritty 63, supported by Glenn Phillips (34), but India’s spin trio—Kuldeep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravindra Jadeja—kept the pressure on. Chakravarthy’s double strike, including Phillips, and Shami’s late removal of Mitchell pegged New Zealand back. Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 53, with crucial boundaries off Shami, lifted them to 251, a total some X users hailed as competitive yet chaseable.

India’s bowlers shone, with Kuldeep and Chakravarthy claiming key wickets, though dropped catches—like Shubman Gill’s miss off Phillips—offered New Zealand lifelines. At halftime, India, unbeaten in the tournament, will back their batting might—Rohit Sharma, Gill, and Virat Kohli—to overhaul this target. New Zealand’s spinners, led by Santner, now face a stern test. The second innings promises a thrilling showdown.