Indian team bashed by Twitter users [Source: @Anandkumar57927/X.com]
In the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India's fielding performance has been sub-par. A series of dropped catches by Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Shreyas Iyer has left Indian fans frustrated, giving New Zealand multiple lifelines in the high-stakes encounter.
The repeated lapses have sparked a wave of criticism and memes on social media, with netizens questioning India's fielding standards in the summit clash. At the time of writing, New Zealand stands at 172 for 5 in 40 overs, maintaining a run rate slightly above 4.
India's Bad Day At Fielding
After winning the toss and opting to bat, New Zealand's top order initially struggled, but India's failure to convert chances has allowed them to rebuild. Rachin Ravindra and Will Young set the tone with a 57-run partnership for the first wicket, but it was the dropped catches that truly helped the Kiwis stay afloat.
Rachin Ravindra, who scored a brisk 37 off 29 balls, was given a crucial lifeline early in his innings when Shreyas Iyer spilt a chance in a boundary. Mohammed Shami, too, added to India's fielding woes by dropping a relatively simple catch off his own bowling.
Rohit Sharma's slip-up, a tough catch that could have dismissed Daryl Mitchell, only added to India's misery. Shubman Gill, too, contributed to the fielding slump by putting down Glenn Phillips, who went on to score a vital 34 off 52 deliveries.
Social Media Erupts Over India's Sloppy Fielding
The string of missed opportunities sparked a frenzy on Twitter, with fans unleashing a barrage of memes and criticism.
Let's take a look at how the internet reacted to India's fielding trauma in the Champions Trophy final:
India's Fight With The Ball
Despite the fielding mishaps, India’s bowlers have shown resilience. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy have chipped in with multiple wickets while Ravindra Jadeja's economical spell has also helped in controlling the run flow.
As New Zealand approaches the final overs, India will need to overcome their fielding lapses and capitalize on the bowling efforts if they are to lift the Champions Trophy.