Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel turned out to be saviours for the Indian team in their last league match of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After India lost early wickets while batting first, Shreyas and Axar put up a partnership of 98 runs for the fourth wicket as India were able to post 249/9 in their 50 overs.
Coming out to bat first after losing the toss, India lost vice-captain Shubman Gill (2 off 7) at the score of 15 runs in 2.5 overs. After a couple of overs, skipper Rohit Sharma also got out after scoring 15 runs off 17 balls as India were reduced to 22/2 in 5.1 overs. Playing his 300th ODI, Virat Kohli got out early scoring just 11(14) runs as India lost three wickets for just 30 runs in 6.4 overs. After that, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel took charge of the innings.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel shine with 98-run partnership vs New Zealand in Champions Trophy 2025 clash
After India lost three wickets for just 30 runs, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel went on to put up a partnership of 98 runs before the fall of the fourth wicket. Axar got out after scoring 42(61) runs with three fours and a six while Iyer top scored with 79(98) runs, hitting four fours and two sixes.
Apart from that, Hardik Pandya also contributed with a run-a-ball 45 runs with four fours and two sixes as India finished on 249 runs for the loss of nine wickets after the end of 50 overs. For New Zealand, Matt Henry registered figures of 5/42, while skipper Mitchell Santner, Will O’Rourke, Kyle Jamieson and Rachin Ravindra scalped a wicket each.
