India vs New Zealand Live: Hardik Strikes Early, NZ 37/1 in 9 Overs:

Hello and welcome to the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 live blog! We are bringing you real-time updates from the Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

After a gritty performance from India's middle order, New Zealand now need 195 runs in 209 balls to secure a victory. However, Indian bowlers are already making their presence felt, with spinners building pressure on the Kiwi batting lineup.

Live Score – India vs New Zealand (Match 12, Champions Trophy 2025)

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Date: March 2, 2025
India: 249/9 (50 Overs)
New Zealand: 55/2 (15.1 Overs)
New Zealand need 195 runs in 209 balls at 5.59 RPO

Key Match Highlights (India Batting Innings)

India's Struggles with the Bat

India lost their top three early, with Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson delivering an excellent opening spell.
Virat Kohli, playing his 300th ODI, fell cheaply after Glenn Phillips took a stunning catch at point.

Iyer & Axar’s 98-Run Stand

Shreyas Iyer (79 off 98) and Axar Patel provided stability with a crucial 98-run partnership.
However, wickets fell in quick succession as Rachin Ravindra and Will O’Rourke struck at key moments.

Pandya’s Late Cameo and Henry’s Five-Wicket Haul

Hardik Pandya (45 off 45) and Ravindra Jadeja took India past 200 before a sensational catch by Kane Williamson removed Jadeja.
Matt Henry (5/42) completed a brilliant five-wicket haul, keeping India under 250 runs.

Key Moments in New Zealand’s Chase

15 Overs Update – NZ 55/2

Varun Chakaravarthy bamboozled Will Young (22 off 35), getting an inside edge onto the stumps.
Axar Patel and Chakravarthy’s tight bowling is restricting the Kiwi batters, making run-scoring difficult.
Kane Williamson (17) is looking to anchor the chase*, but India’s spinners are causing trouble.

12th Over – Chakaravarthy Strikes!

WICKET! Will Young departs after being cleaned up by Varun Chakaravarthy.
Another delivery sneaked past the bat but was not edged, keeping New Zealand under pressure.

11th Over – Axar Patel Keeps It Tight

A dropped catch almost saw Williamson walking back, but the keeper couldn’t hold onto it.
New Zealand batters are struggling to rotate strike against Axar’s variations.

8th Over – Hardik Pandya Concedes a Boundary

Will Young pulled a short ball for four, but Pandya kept things tight, giving away just five runs in the over.

What’s Next? Can India Defend 249?

New Zealand still have experienced batters like Williamson and Tom Latham, but the pressure is mounting as the required run rate hovers around 6 RPO.
India’s spinners are tightening their grip, and if they can break the Williamson-Latham stand, New Zealand will be in deep trouble.
With Chakaravarthy and Axar already making an impact, the next 10 overs will be crucial in determining the course of the match.