India, March 9 -- New Zealand's biggest weapon with the bat in the ICC Champions Trophy final was set to be the combination of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, coming off a match-winning record partnership of 164 in the semifinal against South Africa. However, Kuldeep Yadav dealt a major strike against the Kiwis, dismissing their two best batters in successive overs at the start of his spell on Sunday in Dubai.

After a fast, chancey start for Ravindra, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed the talented southpaw with his first ball of the match, sliding a delivery through the bat-pad gap to leave the Kiwis on 69-2. In his next over, he removed Williamson with a regulation leg-spinner that stopped a touch on the Kiwi great, who went through his shot...