India clinched their third ICC Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9, 2025. This victory also marked their second consecutive ICC tournament win under captain Rohit Sharma, following their triumph in the 2024 ICC World Cup.
New Zealand’s Innings:
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. They posted a total of 251/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Key contributions included:
- Daryl Mitchell: 63 runs
- Michael Bracewell: 53* runs
- Glenn Phillips: 34 runs
India’s spin quartet—Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja—proved instrumental in containing New Zealand’s batting, each taking crucial wickets and maintaining pressure throughout the innings.
India’s Chase:
In response, India chased down the target of 252 runs with one over to spare, finishing at 254/6. The chase was anchored by:
- Rohit Sharma (C): 76 runs
- Shreyas Iyer: 48 runs
- KL Rahul: 34* runs
Despite a brief middle-order wobble, contributions from Iyer and Rahul steadied the innings. The final moments saw Ravindra Jadeja hitting the winning runs, securing India’s victory.
Player of the Match:
Rohit Sharma‘s leadership and top-score of 76 were pivotal in India’s triumph, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Player of the Tournament:
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was named Player of the Tournament for his consistent performances throughout the competition.
This victory reinforces India’s status as a dominant force in modern cricket, having secured multiple ICC titles in recent years.