Watch: Rachin Ravindra was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav after being dropped twice in consecutive overs during the Champions Trophy 2025 final between New Zealand and India in Dubai on Sunday (March 9).
India were asked to field first after captain Rohit Sharma lost his 12th toss in a row, equalling the unwanted record held by Brian Lara. They didn’t get off to an ideal start as New Zealand’s openers, Ravindra and Will Young, got their team to a flying start, stitching a 57-run stand in 7.5 overs. Ravindra, who was looking particularly dangerous, was dropped twice in consecutive overs. Fortunately for India, the missed opportunities didn’t cost them dearly.
After 10 overs, Rohit brought Kuldeep into the attack, and the wrist-spinner made an immediate impact by dismissing the dangerous-looking Ravindra with his very first ball. Ravindra was undone by a back-of-length googly pitched on the off stump line. He shaped up to play it on the off side but was cramped for room, allowing the ball to crash into his stumps after ricocheting off his pads. The southpaw departed for a 29-ball 37, having hit four fours and a six.
He followed up the dismissal by removing Kane Williamson for 11 in his next over, breaking the match wide open. India’s spin quartet put a stranglehold, taking out half of the batting side for 165 runs in 37.5 overs.
Watch Kuldeep Yadav dismiss Rachin Ravindra off his first ball:
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