New Zealand have won a Test match in India for the first time in 36 years! A nervy start to the innings allowed them to come back and take control.
Latham and Williamson kept the scoreboard moving and they had a chance to push on towards victory late in the innings. However, the spinners kept them on the back foot and prevented them from accelerating.
Indian Cricket Team
| Name | Nationality | Batting Style | Bowling Style | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | Captain/Batsman |
| Shubman Gill | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | Vice-Captain/Batsman |
| Virat Kohli | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium | Batsman |
| Shreyas Iyer | Indian | Right-hand bat | Legbreak googly | Batsman |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Indian | Left-hand bat | Legbreak | Batsman |
| KL Rahul | Indian | Right-hand bat | – | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Rishabh Pant | Indian | Left-hand bat | – | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Hardik Pandya | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | Indian | Left-hand bat | Slow left-arm orthodox | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | Indian | Left-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | All-rounder |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Indian | Left-hand bat | Slow left-arm orthodox | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Indian | Left-hand bat | Left-arm wristspin | Bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast | Bowler |
| Mohammed Shami | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Indian | Left-hand bat | Left-arm medium-fast | Bowler |
| Harshit Rana | Indian | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast | Bowler |
New Zealand Cricket Team
| Name | Nationality | Batting Style | Bowling Style | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Slow left-arm orthodox | Captain/Bowling All-rounder |
| Devon Conway | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Right-arm medium | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Tom Latham | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Right-arm medium | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | Batsman |
| Will Young | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | Batsman |
| Michael Bracewell | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | Batting All-rounder |
| Mark Chapman | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Slow left-arm orthodox | All-rounder |
| Daryl Mitchell | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium | Batting All-rounder |
| Glenn Phillips | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm offbreak | All-rounder |
| Rachin Ravindra | New Zealander | Left-hand bat | Slow left-arm orthodox | Batting All-rounder |
| Nathan Smith | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast | All-rounder |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast | Bowler |
| Matt Henry | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast-medium | Bowler |
| Will O’Rourke | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm fast | Bowler |
| Ben Sears | New Zealander | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast | Bowler |
ODI
Whether you’re cheering for the Men in Blue or the Black Caps, there’s no denying that these two sides are a match made in cricket heaven. Not that you’ll find fiery sledges or heated banter between them, but a genuine love of the game shines through in their every move on the field. It’s an unmatched display of skill, strategy and, of course, heart-stopping moments.
Both teams come into the Champions Trophy final fresh off of semifinal masterclasses, a perfect showcase of their strengths. While India’s ODI prowess is evident, it’s the Black Caps’ knack for navigating big moments that has really set them apart. From the heartbreak of their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat to the sting of their 2021 World Cup quarterfinal victory, New Zealand have shown time and again that they can rise up in the biggest moment.
India’s spinners rescue the team after a subpar performance with the bat, as they restrict New Zealand to 205 on a tricky surface. With a combination of sharp close-fielding and accuracy with the ball, India take a slender lead into the last over.
New Zealand lose Rachin Ravindra early to a diving catch from Axar Patel at third-man, and their middle order crumbles under the pressure of the Indian spinners. Kane Williamson battles valiantly, but is castled off the leg-spin of Varun Chakravarthy. He is quickly followed by Will Young, who’s also dismissed by the spinners. The final ball of the innings sees Ravindra Jadeja edge to slip, and India win by a slender margin of eight wickets. The players are called up on stage one by one, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul receiving the most applause as they walk up to accept their medals. Afterwards, Jay Shah is onstage to present the winners’ white jackets and the CHAMPIONS 2025 board is raised into the air.
Test
New Zealand pulled off a remarkable series sweep over India in the 2024 Test series. The Black Caps won the first match in Bengaluru and followed it up with a dominating win in Pune, leaving India to rue their first home series defeat since losing to England in 2012, and ending their record run of 18 successive Test series wins.
India’s batsmen struggled to cope with the turning Wankhede pitch and spinners like Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips took advantage. Rishabh Pant was the lone batsman to show resistance as he made a fine 64, but it wasn’t enough to prevent India’s downfall.
In the second innings, India slumped to 235 all out after being set a target of 147. Ajaz Patel took six wickets in the innings, including a hat-trick. Santner continued his ruthless run against the hosts as he castled Tom Blundell in the morning, and then removed the key wicket of Virat Kohli in the afternoon, as the skipper misread a looped delivery from the left-armer to be caught at third man.
The final Test in Mumbai was a tense affair, with the arch-rivals battling in a hostile atmosphere. There were calls in India for a boycott of the game, as well as protests outside the stadium, but the game went ahead. Despite the low turnout, the match was played in an intensely tense environment. Towards the end of the game, India captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha at the presentation ceremony, as is customary. This angered Pakistan’s team management, and they boycotted the post-match presentation. Ajaz Patel was awarded the player of the match for his performance. He claimed six wickets in the match, and was lauded by his teammates for his bowling display.
T-20
The last time these two teams met, India won a nail-biting 2025 Champions Trophy final to reclaim their white-ball crown. This match will be no different as the two teams battle in a spectacle that’s bound to get cricket fans’ hearts racing. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about the game, this blog post will break down the key moments of the contest.
New Zealand’s Spin Mastery
The Black Caps have mastered the art of spin bowling, with Santner and Patel exploiting India’s weaknesses against spin on turning pitches. Rachin Ravindra, the young Kiwi all-rounder, has also emerged as a star, combining aggression with composure to lead the Black Caps’ charge.
Despite a slow start, New Zealand’s batsmen rallied in the first Powerplay to reach 249/6. But the Indian spinners – Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy – took control of the middle overs to restrict the Kiwis to 206/6. Then, Rohit Sharma’s 76 led India’s run chase to victory.
India’s batting lineup is formidable, with stars like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson crafting innings that feel like poetry in motion. The Men in Blue’s lethal pace attack is anchored by the relentless Jasprit Bumrah, while the likes of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Axar Patel offer variety and depth. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s batting isn’t far behind in terms of talent. Williamson and Tom Latham are world-class batsmen, while wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips offers a brilliant mix of skill and athleticism. Time and time again, New Zealand’s teamwork and discipline has paid off.
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