IND vs NZ: 12 Years Without a Wicket? Jadeja Finally Breaks the Curse!

Dubai(The Uttam Hindu): Ravindra Jadeja broke a 12-year-long drought in ICC event finals by taking a crucial wicket in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. The experienced left-arm spinner dismissed Tom Latham LBW in the 24th over, providing India with a much-needed breakthrough after a solid partnership between Latham and Daryl Mitchell had taken New Zealand past 100 runs.

This wicket was particularly special for Jadeja, as he had not taken a single wicket in an ICC final since the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he was named Player of the Match. Despite playing in multiple major finals, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2023 ODI World Cup, and the 2017 Champions Trophy, he had remained wicketless on the biggest stage. However, in a fitting twist, Jadeja finally ended his long wait in another Champions Trophy final, once again playing a key role for India. Adding to the significance of this moment, Jadeja had also dismissed Latham just eight days earlier during the group-stage clash between India and New Zealand. This marked his fifth wicket of the tournament, and his impact could have been even greater had a few catches not been dropped off his bowling in the final.

While India’s bowling attack featured standout performances from others, including Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, it was Jadeja’s long-awaited ICC final wicket that stood out as a defining moment in the match.