India Stumbles in ICC Champions Trophy Final

India's fielding errors cost them dearly in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, as they dropped multiple catches and missed run-out opportunities, contributing to New Zealand setting a competitive target of 251/7. Despite India's strong bowling performances throughout the tournament, led by Kuldeep Yadav and supported by a formidable spin quartet, they failed to dismiss New Zealand for the first time in eight ODIs this year. The Indian spinners, including Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, had been instrumental in their earlier victories, but struggled to maintain their dominance in the final. New Zealand capitalized on India's fielding lapses, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell anchoring their innings with crucial half-centuries. In past performances, India had restricted opponents effectively, showcasing their spin prowess, but the lack of fielding support in the final proved pivotal. This result marked a halt to India's impressive run in the 2025 season, despite their earlier success against teams like England and Pakistan.