IND vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Kuldeep Yadav castles Rachin Ravindra in very first Ball, wins Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's hearts - Watch

In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Stadium, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav delivered a pivotal moment by dismissing New Zealand's in-form batter, Rachin Ravindra, with his very first delivery.

Introduced into the attack in the 11th over, Kuldeep bowled a deceptive googly at 84 km/h. The ball pitched just short of a good length outside off stump, cramping Ravindra for room as he attempted an off-side shot. Misreading the delivery, Ravindra's bat was caught in an uncertain position, leading the ball to clip his pad before crashing into the top of off-stump.

At that juncture, Ravindra had been batting confidently, scoring 37 runs off 29 balls, including four boundaries and a six.

IND vs NZ - Kuldeep castles Rachin

The significance of this wicket was evident in the exuberant celebrations that ensued. Virat Kohli, renowned for his passionate on-field demeanor, erupted in a wild celebration alongside Kuldeep.

The Indian spinner was under fire from both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for a backing up mistake against Australia in the semifinal, but he won the stalwarts over with his magic in the final.

Prior to his dismissal, Ravindra had been instrumental in providing New Zealand with a strong start, propelling the team to 57 runs without loss by the 8th over. His aggressive approach had put pressure on the Indian bowlers, making his wicket all the more crucial for India to regain control of the match.

Kuldeep's breakthrough set the tone for India's bowling unit, allowing them to apply pressure on New Zealand's batting lineup in this high-stakes final.