 "India's top-order failure resulted in Men in Blue failing to cross 250. Image: Reuters")
The Indian cricket team endured a poor start to their match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday (2 March) in Dubai as their top-three batters were dismissed in just 6.4 overs. This is the worst performance by Indian top-three batters in ODIs in the last six years as New Zealand bowlers took only 40 balls to send them packing.
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The last time India’s top-order was dismissed in fewer balls was in the 2019 semi-final against the same opponents, New Zealand. In that match, Kiwi bowlers needed just 3.1 overs (19 balls) to dismiss India’s top-three batters.
Also, this is only the second time Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli got out together in the first powerplay in ODIs. The first time it happened was against Sri Lanka in 2023. Rohit, Gill and Kohli have been India’s top-three batters 29 times in ODIs.
In the end, India posted 249/9 from 50 overs with Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya scoring 79, 42 and 45, respectively. Matt Henry took five wickets for 42.
Remember, the loser of this match will play South Africa in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma lost yet another toss as New Zealand opted to field first. This was the 10th consecutive toss loss for Rohit in ODIs. Only Brian Lara (12) and Peter Borren (11) are ahead of him. Meanwhile, India have not won a toss in ODIs for 13 matches now, which is a world record.
This is also Kohli’s 300th ODI . He is the only batter in world cricket to play 300 ODIs, 100 Tests and 100 T20Is.