Ravindra Jadeja delivered a remarkable spell in the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final on Sunday, bowling 10 economical overs and conceding just 30 runs while claiming the crucial wicket of Tom Latham.
His stellar performance was a key contribution as India restricted New Zealand to 251/7, with Jadeja’s efforts drawing attention on social media.
Following his spell, Virat Kohli embraced him in what many speculated could be a hint towards Jadeja’s possible retirement, as rumors swirl around the future of some senior Indian players, including Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Jadeja, who has over 200 ODIs to his name, retired from T20I cricket after India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Kohli’s hug sparked chatter online, with some wondering if it could mark Jadeja's last ODI appearance should India go on to win the Champions Trophy.
The game, however, wasn’t just about Jadeja’s efforts. Kuldeep Yadav also played a pivotal role, taking 2/40 and creating vital breakthroughs as the Indian spinners dominated the conditions.
New Zealand, opting to bat first, had well-timed fifties from Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (53 off 40 balls) to steady the ship after a rocky start. However, their total did not reflect the promising beginning as India’s spinners stifled their progress.
The Blackcaps had reached 69/1 in the first 10 overs, despite losing Will Young to Varun Chakravarthy (2/45), who made an early impact.
However, Kuldeep's introduction in the 11th over proved a turning point, as he dismissed Rachin Ravindra with a brilliantly disguised googly, breaking a solid 57-run partnership. He then struck again, removing Kane Williamson with a return catch, as New Zealand slumped to 75/3 in the 12th over.
The spin quartet of Kuldeep, Varun, Axar Patel, and Jadeja took control from that point. They bowled 38 overs for just 144 runs, keeping New Zealand’s scoring in check and allowing only sporadic boundaries.
Kuldeep and Varun, known for their pace and turn, troubled the Blackcaps throughout, while Jadeja and Axar used quick deliveries to build pressure.
Chakravarthy, with his wide array of deliveries, accounted for Glenn Phillips to break a promising 57-run stand for the fifth wicket, further tightening India’s grip on the match.
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