In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand on March 9, 2025, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell departed after scoring a half-century. India's spinners, Varun Chakravarthy (2 for 45) and Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 40), played key roles in dismantling New Zealand’s batting. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss, but India faced a tough challenge from the resilient Kiwis. The match, held in Dubai, marks a thrilling contest between two well-matched teams, with India aiming to overcome New Zealand’s slight edge in ICC knockout encounters.  

In the 2025 Champions Trophy final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India's spinner Varun Chakaravarthy delivered a pivotal moment by dismissing New Zealand's Glenn Phillips for 34 runs. In the 38th over, Chakaravarthy bowled a flighted googly outside off-stump; Phillips attempted a cut shot, but the ball sharply turned back, sneaking between bat and pad to hit the stumps. This wicket left New Zealand at 165/5 after 37.5 overs. Earlier, New Zealand's openers, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young, provided a strong start with a 51-run partnership. However, Indian spinners consistently broke partnerships, with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja also contributing crucial wickets. At 41 overs, New Zealand stood at 175/5, with Daryl Mitchell nearing a half-century.

During the Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was visibly animated during a drinks break after the 15th over. The incident occurred when Shubman Gill was late to join the team huddle, prompting Rohit's outburst. Fans on social media speculated that Gill's delay led to the captain's frustration. Earlier in the match, India's spinners had given the team an advantage by securing three wickets within 13 overs. Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Will Young for 15, while Kuldeep Yadav took the crucial wickets of Rachin Ravindra (37) and Kane Williamson (11). Despite the on-field tension, India maintained their dominance in the game.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was vandalized with anti-India graffiti on Sunday. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the "despicable act" and urged authorities to take strict action. The temple’s Public Affairs wing denounced the incident as "another show of hate against Hindus." The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) linked the act to rising Hinduphobia. Similar incidents occurred in Sacramento and New York last year. The Chino Hills Police Department has yet to issue a statement. Hindu groups have called for enhanced security at places of worship.

Star India batter Virat Kohli was seen waving at his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The moment, captured on camera, went viral on social media. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first, with Rachin Ravindra scoring a quick 37. However, India's spinners, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, took crucial wickets to shift momentum. The match remains intense as India aims for another ICC trophy.

In the ICC Champions Trophy final, New Zealand's openers made a strong start, with Rachin Ravindra scoring a brisk 37 off 29 balls. However, India's spinner Kuldeep Yadav turned the game by dismissing Ravindra with his first delivery—a deceptive googly that breached the bat-pad gap and hit the stumps. In his subsequent over, Kuldeep claimed the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson, who, after scoring 11 runs, misread a leg-spinner and offered a simple return catch. These pivotal dismissals reduced New Zealand to 76/3, shifting the momentum in India's favor and underscoring Kuldeep's impact on the match.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri lauded Virat Kohli's exceptional match awareness and discipline, distinguishing him in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Kohli's stellar ODI career boasts 14,180 runs at an average of 58.11, including a record 51 centuries. In the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, the 36-year-old showcased his prowess with a century against Pakistan and a pivotal 84-run knock in the semi-final against Australia. Shastri noted that Kohli's return to focusing on singles and grounded shots has been instrumental in his recent success. He also highlighted Kohli's relentless commitment to refining his craft, recalling instances where Kohli dedicated extra hours post-play to improve. Shastri drew parallels between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, emphasizing their sacrifices and energy on the field, qualities that captivate audiences and inspire teammates.

In the ongoing Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025, at the Dubai International Stadium, India's spinners have effectively stifled New Zealand's batting lineup. After a promising start, with New Zealand reaching 50 runs in just 7 overs, the introduction of spin altered the game's momentum. Varun Chakravarthy delivered a series of economical overs, building pressure on the Kiwi batsmen. This pressure culminated in Kuldeep Yadav's pivotal double strike, dismissing key players and reducing New Zealand to 95/3 in 18 overs. Currently, New Zealand is attempting to rebuild their innings, standing at 102/3 after 21 overs, with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham at the crease. The pitch's spin-friendly nature, combined with India's strategic bowling changes, has made scoring challenging for New Zealand, setting the stage for a gripping contest.

In the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand, pacer Mohammed Shami suffered a hand injury after dropping a return catch from Rachin Ravindra in the seventh over. Attempting the catch off his own bowling, Shami was struck on his left hand, causing it to bleed and necessitating on-field medical attention. This marked Shami's third dropped caught-and-bowled opportunity in two matches, having missed two similar chances in the semi-final against Australia. Shortly after, Ravindra was given another reprieve when Shreyas Iyer dropped his catch off Varun Chakravarthy's bowling. Despite these lapses, India's bowlers, particularly spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Chakravarthy, applied consistent pressure, leading to crucial breakthroughs and restricting New Zealand's progress.

Kuldeep Yadav struck twice in succession to put India on top in the ICC Champions Trophy final, removing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in his first two overs. India’s spinners brought them back into the game after a good start for New Zealand. With his first delivery of the afternoon, Kuldeep got the big wicket of Rachin with a googly that left the opener tangled, and the stumps rattled. Shortly after, he had Williamson caught and bowled. Earlier, Varun Chakaravarthy provided India’s first breakthrough, in his 2nd over, he breached opener Will Young’s defence to trap him LBW.