In a thrilling finale at the Dubai International Stadium, India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets to win their third title in the history of the tournament.
Choosing to bat first after the toss, New Zealand accumulated 251 for 7 in their 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell were the pillars of the innings, with Mitchell scoring a gritty 63 and Bracewell getting 53 not out. India's spin quartet hampered the Black Caps, as Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy each took two wickets, effectively dousing New Zealand's momentum during the middle overs.
In 252, India began on a good note with skipper Rohit Sharma setting the tone.He compiled an authoritative 76 runs and laid a robust platform for the pursuit. Shubman Gill added 31 runs before being dismissed by a dazzling catch off Glenn Phillips. India weathered a mid-pursuit crisis, when quick wickets including that of Virat Kohli for only 1 run were lost, to stay calm. Shreyas Iyer added a critical 48, while KL Rahul's unbeaten 34 helped India cross the finishing line six balls before schedule. Rohit Sharma's aggressive beginning subjected New Zealand bowlers to pressure, allowing India to maintain a good run rate. Indian spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, were responsible in keeping New Zealand under a good score. Michael Bracewell's batman finishing touch provided New Zealand with a good score, and his pressure performances were evident.
Rohit Sharma, the Player of the Match for his game-changing innings, credited his team's all-round effort and the importance of winning successive ICC trophies. He acclaimed the spinners for their relentless work throughout the competition.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner accepted that his team was short by about 20 runs and gave credit to India's spinners for their brilliant show. Though it was a tough time for them, he was proud of the way his team reached the final.
India went through the tournament unbeaten, reaffirming their superiority in white-ball cricket.
