New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner, known for his brevity, acknowledged that his team was “squeezed by spin” after Varun Chakravarthy stepped in to contribute to a lineup of spinners, leading to his five-wicket haul that secured India’s 44-run victory in the final group stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. As Australia observes India’s dominance over their neighbors, they may come to the realization that winning both the World Cup and the Champions Trophy simultaneously could prove to be quite challenging. More specifically, the Indian spinners are unlikely to let them easily claim another title. Witnessing New Zealand being overwhelmed while pursuing a target of 249, some unsettling thoughts may have already begun to emerge in the minds of the Australians.
Champions Trophy: Varun confounds New Zealand batters as India leads the group with a perfect winning record.
