India won the Champions Trophy 2025 by defeating New Zealand in the summit clash by four wickets.
Cricket News
Dubai witnessed a historic night as Rohit Sharma’s India clinched their third (shared once with Sri Lanka in 2000) ICC Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a brilliant final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9. Chasing 252 for victory, the Men in Blue sealed the game with six balls to spare.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first and posted 251/7 in their 50 overs, thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s 63 and Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 53. For the Blues, Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) shared four wickets between them, restricting the Kiwis from reaching a strong total. Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with a wicket each, while India’s spin attack kept the run rate in check.
In reply, the side got off to an explosive start, with captain Rohit Sharma leading from the front. His 76 off 83 balls, laced with seven boundaries and three sixes, was the main architect of their chase. Despite losing Shubman Gill (31) and Virat Kohli (1) in quick succession, Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) stabilized the innings. However, the BlackCaps took the game till the end with regular breakthroughs.
With 61 needed off the last 10 overs, KL Rahul (34) and Hardik Pandya (18) soaked in the pressure nicely. Pandya fell with just 11 runs required, but Jadeja (9) ensured there were no further issues, smashing the winning boundary to end India’s 12-year wait for a Champions Trophy title.
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Talking Points
India won an ICC ODI trophy after almost 12 years
The Men in Blue had a night to remember as they lifted their third ICC Champions Trophy. The side won the T20 World Cup in 2024 but ended their 12-year wait for an ODI Trophy. The last time India won the Champions Trophy in 2013, they had an unbeaten run, which they managed to do in this edition.
2. Rohit Sharma’s leadership forte atop
Rohit Sharma gave India a flying start in the final, smashing a six off Kyle Jamieson’s second delivery. He dominated the opening stand with Shubman Gill, reaching his half-century in 41 balls. His aggressive intent guided India past 50 in just 7.2 overs. However, Rohit’s innings came to an end on 76 off 83 balls when he was stumped off Rachin Ravindra after facing 11 consecutive dot balls. The Indian skipper also became the seventh Indian batter to score 1000 or more runs in ODIs against New Zealand.
3. India’s poor fielding vs New Zealand’s top-notch work
The Men in Blue’s fielding woes cost them dearly in the first innings. While Glenn Phillips’s stunning catch to dismiss Shubman Gill caught the attention, India’s sloppy efforts let them down. Four dropped catches and missed run-out chances cost them the extra runs. Shubman Gill, usually good on the field, dropped a sitter, while Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami fumbled crucial opportunities. Kuldeep Yadav’s poor awareness also hurt India’s chances. In contrast, New Zealand’s sharp fielding, including Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Rachin Ravindra, kept the pressure on Men in Blue.
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