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RAWALPINDI, Pakistan : New Zealand powered into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, taking India along with them after Rachin Ravindra's century and inspired bowling from Michael Bracewell ensured a five-wicket win over Group A opponents Bangladesh on Monday.
After months of chatter around his dwindling form and continuity on the international stage, Virat Kohli added another illustrious century to his tally as he produced a match-winning knock against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy match on Sunday. India only needed two runs to win the match but Kohli still had to add a boundary to reach the triple-digit score. India captain Rohit Sharma, sitting in the dressing room, challenged his long-time teammate to reach his ton with a six. The visual left fans on social media in awe. Even former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was impressed by the smile he saw on Rohit's face as Kohli reached the landmark.
India booked their spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals following New Zealand's comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday. Rachin Ravindra scored a brilliant century after a sensational bowling performance from Michael Bracewell as New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets. The result also meant that New Zealand became the second team from Group A to book their spot in the knockout stages of the competition. However, it also meant that Bangladesh and Pakistan were eliminated from the competition as both teams have two losses each. India will face New Zealand in their final group stage match while Bangladesh will take on Pakistan but both encounters will have no significance other than deciding which team will top the group en route to the semifinals.
Former Pakistan women's captain Urooj Mumtaz criticised skipper Mohammad Rizwan for playing too many dot balls in the middle overs phase, which ultimately led to their six-wicket defeat to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy clash in Dubai. Though Rizwan made 46 to be Pakistan's second-highest run-scorer as the side posted 241 in 49.4 overs, he took 77 balls to make that score and played 29 dot balls in between 11 to 24 overs. Pakistan's middle overs slowdown started just after ending the power-play at 52/2, with their overall dot ball percentage standing at 48 per cent.
The defending champions and host Pakistan are on the verge of being eliminated from the Champions Trophy following a six-wicket loss to India. Former spinner Danish Kaneria suggested that PCB should adopt a strict approach, like India did after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series loss, to achieve the desired results. Pakistan lost to New Zealand in Karachi in the tournament opener by 60 runs and lost their second game to arch-rivals India, as they still have no points to show on the points table with just one match to go. There is only a flicker of hope remaining for hosts at the Champions Trophy, who are now relying solely on other results to have any chance of progressing to the semifinals.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke expressed his surprise over Pakistan's playing XI in their Champions Trophy match against India on Sunday. Pakistan made just one change to their side as injured batter Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out of the tournament after the loss to New Zealand in the tournament opener, was replaced by fellow opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was not part of the initial squad. After India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets, Clarke suggested that he couldn't comprehend the fact that the Mohammed Rizwan-led side made just one change to their XI despite playing under different conditions.
Rachin Ravindra shepherded New Zealand's chase with a timely century as his team recovered from an early wobble to see off Bangladesh by five wickets and secure its place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy on Monday. Victory for the Black Caps also confirmed India's slot in the semifinals while eliminating tournament hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh from the mega event. Both India and New Zealand have won their first two matches, including against Pakistan. Before Ravindra's chancy hundred, all-rounder Michael Bracewell did the star turn with a four-wicket haul as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 236 for nine.
Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau (IB) has reportedly issued a high alert after uncovering an alleged plot by "active covert groups" to kidnap foreign guests during the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. Except for India, all the other teams are playing their matches in Pakistan and if India fail to reach the final, the summit clash will also be played in the country. However, according to a report by CNN-News18, an alert has been issued against a number of terror outfits "including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS and other Balochistan-based groups" after warnings regarding alleged abduction plots. The report added that the security forces "have deployed high-level protection teams, including rangers and local police".