 "Spin Showdown: India vs New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final")
The Indian cricket team has been nothing short of sensational with their bowling displays throughout the Champions Trophy 2025, securing a coveted place in the final of this prestigious tournament. Their spin attack has been nothing less than a force to be reckoned with, and it was a historic moment when the spinners took 9 wickets in an ODI for the first time since 2011, during their final Group A game against New Zealand. ALSO READ: IND vs NZ FINAL PLAYING 11 | IND vs NZ FINAL LIVE SCORE | IND vs NZ FINAL DUBAI PITCH REPORT Same was the case in the final as well with Indian spinners taking 5 of the 6 wickets against New Zealand in the 1st innings. While Varun and Kuldeep fetched 2 scalps each, jadeja also contributed with on ewicket on the day. Rohit trusted his spinners to do the job on the day as India bowled 38 overs of spin in the final match.
| Most overs of spin bowled in a Champions Trophy innings | ||||
| Overs Bowled | Match | Venue | Year | Stage |
| 39.4 | Sri Lanka vs Australia | Colombo RPS | 2002 | Semi-final |
| 38 | India vs New Zealand | Dubai | 2025 | Final |
| 37.3 | India vs New Zealand | Dubai | 2025 | - |
| 36.5 | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand | Dhaka | 1998 | Quarter-final |
Varun played a big role again for India and expressed his views after the spell as well. "It was a good wicket compared to the last wicket. It was not turning much. All I could do was stick it into the stump line and wait for the batter to make some mistake. I like bowling in the death and the powerplay, it is more challenging and gives me more opportunity to pick wickets. I like talking to Kuldeep, even Jaddu bhai and Axar, I am pretty new to this setup and am looking to build some nice bonds. It (the right foot) is a little sore. It is a gettable score if we bat well initially." Varun said. However, the Black Caps should not be underestimated. They bring their own formidable spin attack to the table, led by none other than their captain, Mitchell Santner. Santner, with a series of stellar performances in the tournament, has been a constant threat, and he will be the key figure as they enter the final.
India’s Spin Attack Poised for a Dazzling Display
The Indian spin department has been the backbone of their success in the Champions Trophy 2025. From Ravindra Jadeja’s precision to Varun Chakaravarthy’s deceptive variety, the bowlers have consistently pulled India out of tight spots. This was most evident during their semi-final clash against Australia. Despite the pitch offering more for the batsmen, the spinners proved to be invaluable, picking up key wickets and ensuring India crossed the line in style.
| India spinners in ODIs | |||||||||||||
| Player | Innings | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W | BBI | 4s | 6s | Dots |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 109 | 949.1 | 4745 | 179 | 5 | 26.51 | 31.82 | 7 | 2 | 6/25 | 297 | 134 | 2907 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 89 | 773.1 | 3822 | 96 | 4.94 | 39.81 | 48.32 | 2 | 1 | 5/33 | 258 | 79 | 2296 |
| Axar Patel | 55 | 456.4 | 2059 | 58 | 4.51 | 35.5 | 47.24 | 0 | 0 | 3/24 | 160 | 40 | 1514 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 3 | 30 | 145 | 8 | 4.83 | 18.12 | 22.5 | 0 | 1 | 5/42 | 7 | 4 | 88 |
New Zealand Bringing a Spin Attack of Their Own
But New Zealand is far from a push-over. The Kiwis have shown in the past how their spin attack can outwit the Indians, especially during the Test series on Indian soil last year. With Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell, the Black Caps possess a versatile spin unit that could be pivotal if the pitch on the final day offers any assistance to the bowlers. They will certainly be looking to exploit any potential turn to break India’s momentum.
| New Zealand spinners in ODIs | |||||||||||||
| Player | Innings | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W | BBI | 4s | 6s | Dots |
| Mitchell Santner | 111 | 924.3 | 4460 | 124 | 4.82 | 35.97 | 44.73 | 0 | 2 | 5/50 | 260 | 119 | 2828 |
| Michael Bracewell | 29 | 220 | 1083 | 32 | 4.92 | 33.84 | 41.25 | 2 | 0 | 4/26 | 79 | 28 | 690 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 23 | 153.1 | 904 | 20 | 5.9 | 45.2 | 45.95 | 1 | 0 | 4/60 | 61 | 30 | 394 |
| Glenn Phillips | 28 | 116 | 706 | 16 | 6.09 | 44.12 | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | 3/37 | 43 | 24 | 283 |
As the stage is set for a thrilling final, both teams will rely on their spinners to take center stage and make the crucial breakthroughs. It’s a showdown that promises to be a battle of the spin maestros