Champions Trophy: Team India Fails to Post a Big Score Against New Zealand

In today's final Group A league match of the Champions Trophy, India faced New Zealand. Winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl first, restricting Team India to a modest total of 249 for 9 in 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer scored a half-century, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya made crucial contributions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry was the standout bowler, taking five wickets.

India struggled at the start, losing three wickets for just 30 runs due to the dominance of New Zealand's pace attack. Captain Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gill (2), and Virat Kohli (11) were dismissed cheaply. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel then stabilized the innings, with Iyer scoring 79 off 98 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, while Patel contributed 42 runs off 61 balls with three fours and one six.

Hardik Pandya (45) and KL Rahul (23) provided some resistance, helping India cross the 200-run mark. Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with 16 runs. The slow pitch at the Dubai Stadium made scoring difficult for the batsmen. It remains to be seen how New Zealand's batsmen respond to India's bowling attack.