India Tops Group A, Advances to Semi-Finals

India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs to top Group A in the Champions Trophy 2025, setting up a semifinal clash with Australia in Dubai. Shreyas Iyer's steady 79 and Varun Chakravarthy's impressive 5/42 were instrumental in India's victory as they set a target of 250, which New Zealand failed to chase, scoring only 205. Matt Henry's historic 5/42 for New Zealand was overshadowed by India's spin attack, which dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup despite Kane Williamson's valiant 81. The Indian spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, adapted well to the conditions, and Hardik Pandya's contribution with both bat and ball was crucial. New Zealand will face South Africa in the semifinal in Lahore. The match underscored the dominance of Indian spin and highlighted Matt Henry's record-breaking performance against India.