India have been a juggernaut with both bat and ball in the ICC Champions Trophy, but their fielding has repeatedly let them down. In the must-win final against New Zealand, India’s lackluster efforts in the field were glaring, leaving all the fans frustrated.
Poor fielding by India at Champions Trophy Final
India’s fielding woes began early when Mohammed Shami spilled a straightforward caught-and-bowled chance off Rachin Ravindra. The Indian pacer, struggling with a strapped hand, seemed to hesitate before reacting too late to a simple chip back to him.
The struggles continued as Shreyas Iyer dropped Ravindra again in the deep, failing to hold onto a tough yet catchable opportunity after covering significant ground. The trend worsened when Rohit Sharma failed to latch onto a leaping chance at mid-wicket, only managing to help the ball over the bar in football terms.
Perhaps the most frustrating drop came when Shubman Gill shelled a chance offered by Glenn Phillips. Gill, positioned at deep mid-wicket, got both hands to a dipping pull shot but couldn’t hold on. Sporting sunglasses and well-placed, Gill’s failure summed up India’s torrid day in the field.
Only Pakistan, Bangladesh worse fielding teams than India
In total, India dropped four catches in the final, pushing their tournament tally to 11. Their catch efficiency now stands at a dismal 67% — the joint second-worst alongside Bangladesh. In absolute contrast, New Zealand, boasting a tournament-best 91% efficiency, set the gold standard in the field.
Catch Efficiency – ICC Champions Trophy 2025
| Team | Catch % |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 91% |
| South Africa | 83% |
| Australia | 76% |
| Afghanistan | 75% |
| England | 73% |
| India | 67% |
| Bangladesh | 67% |
| Pakistan | 60% |
