Most spin overs bowled in a men's ODI, full list: India nearly break national record vs New Zealand

Going into the final league match, India named as many as four frontline spinners in their line-up, bringing in Varun Chakravarthy for Harshit Rana. The spin conducive Dubai surface and the fairly large boundaries may have been the reasons.

India’s gamble paid off as they successfully defended 249, courtesy of a 5-42 from Varun, who became the quickest Indian to an ODI five-wicket haul. Varun was well supported by Axar Patel (1-32), Kuldeep Yadav (2-56) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-36) as New Zealand were strangled against a four-pronged spin attack. New Zealand were bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs, succumbing to a 44-run defeat.

Out of the 45.3 overs, India's spin quartet bowled 37.3. This was the first time India sent down more than 30 overs of spin in an ODI since the series in Sri Lanka last year. Before that, they did it in the 2018 Asia Cup final against Bangladesh, where Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep, Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav constituted their spin flotilla.

This was also the third-most number of overs India have ever bowled with spin in a men's ODI: they bowled 41.2 overs against West Indies at Indore in 2011 and 39 overs against Kenya at Gwalior in 1998.

The all-time world record of 44 overs is held by Sri Lanka, who achieved the feat thrice – against West Indies (1996), New Zealand (1998) and Australia (2004).

Update: India better the tally in final

The two teams met again in the final, where India bettered their tally from the group-stage game. Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav bowled their full quota, while Axar Patel sent down eight overs, taking the combined tally to 38 overs.

Most spin overs bowled by a team in men's ODIs, full list

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