In an exciting conclusion at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India won in the Champions Trophy 2025, overcoming New Zealand by four wickets. This win secures India’s third Champions Trophy title, reinforcing their strength in the ODI format. Led by the insightful Rohit Sharma, the Indian team showcased remarkable skill, composure, and determination to successfully chase a challenging target of 252 runs.
New Zealand’s Innings: A Fighting Total
Winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat first, aiming to set a challenging total. Openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra got off to a solid start, but the Indian bowlers quickly found their rhythm. Ravindra made a quick 37 off 29 balls, while Young contributed 28 before falling to India’s disciplined bowling attack.
The middle order, led by Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls), steadied the innings. However, Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy applied pressure, each taking two wickets and limiting the scoring opportunities. The standout performance for New Zealand came from Michael Bracewell, who played a fantastic unbeaten 53 off 40 balls, accelerating in the closing overs.
In the end, New Zealand posted 251/7 in 50 overs, a competitive yet chaseable target for the Indian batting line-up.
India’s Response: A Captain’s Masterclass
India started their chase of 252 in impressive fashion, led by captain Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant 76 runs. His innings laid a solid foundation for the team’s pursuit. Alongside Shubman Gill, who contributed 42 runs off 51 balls, they formed a strong opening partnership of 105 runs, making the chase appear quite manageable at first.
However, New Zealand made a comeback, with Michael Bracewell and Matt Henry delivering key breakthroughs. The wickets of Virat Kohli (27) and Shreyas Iyer (48) caused some tension for India as the middle order faced challenges against the disciplined Kiwi bowling attack.
KL Rahul’s Composure Seals the Victory
With the pressure on and India in need of stability, KL Rahul stepped up to the challenge. His unbeaten 34 runs brought the calmness required to lead India to victory. Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 18 also contributed to relieving the tension.
In the 49th over, Rahul hit the winning runs, bringing India to 254/6 and clinching a memorable win with six balls remaining. This victory not only highlighted India’s batting depth but also their capability to manage pressure in critical matches.
A Historic Achievement for Team India
With this victory, India has claimed the Champions Trophy for the third time, having previously won it in 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013 (under MS Dhoni). This achievement highlights India’s dominance in white-ball cricket and paves the way for future international competitions. Rohit Sharma, sharing his thoughts on the win, stated: “This victory is special. The team displayed remarkable character, and winning the Champions Trophy again is a proud moment for Indian cricket.
New Zealand’s Valiant Effort
Even though they didn’t win, New Zealand showed remarkable resilience during the tournament. Key players such as Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell made significant contributions, and their determination was clear in the final match. Although they came up short, the Kiwis continue to be one of the strongest teams in world cricket.
Looking Ahead
With the Champions Trophy 2025 now behind us, India will aim to capitalize on this success in their upcoming international matches. The rise of new talent, combined with the experience of seasoned players, positions them as formidable contenders for future ICC tournaments.
For cricket enthusiasts, the final was a thrilling display of intense action, reaffirming why ODI cricket continues to be such an exciting format. As India revels in this momentous victory, attention will now turn to the next significant challenge in the world of cricket.
Key Performers
- India: Rohit Sharma (76), KL Rahul (34*), Kuldeep Yadav (2/43)
- New Zealand: Daryl Mitchell (63), Michael Bracewell (53* & 2/28)
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory will be celebrated as a brilliant example of chasing under pressure, with Rohit Sharma at the helm. Congratulations to Team India on this well-deserved win!