Dubai: India’s stellar victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was marked by a remarkable display of resilience and all-round brilliance, with the Men in Blue claiming their third title in the tournament's history after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Following the victory, star batter Virat Kohli, reflecting on the achievement, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “It's been amazing, and we wanted to bounce back after a tough tour of Australia. Playing alongside a bunch of young, incredible cricketers has been fantastic. They’re stepping up and taking India in the right direction,” said Kohli, who is instrumental in mentoring the next generation of players.
Kohli’s words underscored his role not just as a player but as a guiding force for younger talent such as Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul. “When you leave, you want to leave the team in a better position. I try to share my experience with them,” he added, acknowledging the contributions of these young players, who played significant roles in India’s triumph. The legend also stated, "The team is in good hands!"
Earlier, there were speculations that both Kohli and Rohit would retire from the ODI format after the Champions Trophy campaign, which, as of now, is not the case.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy shines with a swift half-century
India's run chase of 252 got off to a blazing start, thanks to an aggressive 76 from captain Rohit Sharma, who led from the front. The opening partnership between Rohit and Shubman Gill was vital in giving India a solid foundation. Rohit was in scintillating form, launching Nathan Smith for a 14-run over, including two fours and a six. By the end of the powerplay, India had raced to 64/0 in 10 overs.
Rohit’s 41-ball half-century, which included five fours and three sixes, was instrumental in keeping the pressure on New Zealand’s bowlers. His departure for 76 in the 26th over, however, brought a brief halt to India’s momentum.
New Zealand’s fightback and India's steely resolve
Despite the early wickets of Gill (31) and Kohli (1), the Indian middle order, including Shreyas Iyer (48), KL Rahul (34*), and Axar Patel (29), stood firm to keep India’s chase on track. The match was finely poised as India needed 69 runs from 69 balls with four wickets in hand.
The Kiwis fought hard, with Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra restricting India’s progress. However, it was the calm and composed partnership between Hardik Pandya and Rahul that steered India closer to the target. In the final moments, Hardik was dismissed for 18, but it was Ravindra Jadeja who sealed the win with a timely boundary, bringing India to victory with six balls to spare.
India's bowlers set the tone
Earlier in the day, India’s spinners were the key architects of New Zealand’s downfall. The Blackcaps, after being put in to bat by Rohit Sharma, were restricted to 251/7 in their 50 overs. Despite a spirited late fightback from Michael Bracewell (53* off 40 balls), New Zealand found it difficult to accelerate through the middle overs against Kuldeep Yadav (2/40), Varun Chakravarthy (2/45), and Ravindra Jadeja (1/30).
Kuldeep’s brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissal of Kane Williamson for just 11 and the timely breakthroughs by Chakravarthy were crucial moments. Daryl Mitchell’s patient knock of 63 off 101 balls was the standout contribution for New Zealand, but regular wickets kept India on top throughout.
A historic win for India
This victory marks India’s third ICC Champions Trophy title, following their triumphs in 2002 and 2013. The win also reflects the maturity of this Indian squad, which continues to evolve and adapt under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the guidance of experienced players like Kohli.
As India celebrated their victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to congratulate the team, describing the performance as “exceptional.” He praised the team’s consistency and spirit throughout the tournament.
With their third Champions Trophy under their belt, India now looks ahead to future challenges, with a team that blends experience and youthful exuberance—an exciting prospect for Indian cricket in the years to come.
Brief scores:
New Zealand: 251/7 (Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 53*; Kuldeep Yadav 2/40)
India: 252/6 (Rohit Sharma 76, Shreyas Iyer 48, KL Rahul 34*; Mitchell Santner 2/33)
Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma
Published: 09 Mar 2025, 10:41 pm IST
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