Watch: Axar Patel Hides India’s Fielding Medal After Victory vs New Zealand; New Winner Announced

A brilliant all-round performance from the Indian side in all three departments of the game in the Champions Trophy 2025 has helped them get the semifinal qualification as they will face Australia in the knockout stage at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The blue brigade finished another ICC event’s group stage with an unbeaten run, as they did during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

India earns memorable victory against New Zealand in Champions Trophy 2025

Winning the toss, the Kiwi captain Mitchell Santer decided to bowl first on a slow and low surface, expecting the surface to get better under the lights. The Men in Blue didn’t make a great start in the powerplay, losing three early wickets in the first seven overs.

Also Read: Australia Announce This Massive Injury Replacement To Face India’s Spin Challenge

However, the 98-run stand for the fourth wicket between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel put the solid platform for the Blue Brigade. Hardik Pandya’s late flourish of 42 runs in the lower middle order carried them to 249/9 in their allotted 50 overs.

With the ball, the blue brigade sent back Rachin Ravindra early in the innings before the spinners kept the tight line and length to squeeze up the runs and put pressure on the new batters. Apart from Kane Williamson’s 85-run knock, no one stood tall from the batting department as Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul sealed the deal and earned a 44-run victory.

Watch: Axar Patel hides India’s fielding medal as Virat Kohli announced as winner

Fielding coach reckoned that the players did a great job by squeezing up the runs to put pressure on Daryl Mitchell, who couldn’t break free at the start of his innings and gave away his wicket in the pressure.

“We always talk about being a gun-fielding unit, but the most important thing for me is how you become proactive. I thought, in the different stages of the game, the way we squeezed up even when Daryl Mitchell came in, we didn’t allow him to rotate the strike. The way the bullet throws came in from both the infield and outfield, we continued the pressure.” T Dilip addressed in the dressing room at the end of the fixture.

He also announced Axar Patel, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer as the contenders for the medal, as they didn’t show any fear of putting the dives in the field.

“Let’s come to the contenders for the fielder of the match medal. Staying at the third-man area is never an easy job, and then taking the catch in a Superman manner and getting that direct hit later on. So, the first medal is for Axar Patel.” India’s fielding coach addressed.

“In every game, the way he shows his authority and puts himself in the field with fine fielding and catching is Virat Kohli. For the dives and putting the body on the line, the third contender is Shreyas Iyer.” The veteran pointed out.

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Kohli became the winner of the medal, which was lost for a moment in the dressing room, as Axar kept it with him for a long time.

India aims for Champions Trophy 2025 final qualification

The Rohit Sharma-led side will hope to destroy Australia in the semifinal and get full revenge for the 2023 ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad.

Steve Smith’s army has brought in Cooper Connolly and could use Jake Fraser-McGurk in the opening spot to tackle the spin challenge of the Indian side at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.