Team India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by defeating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (March 9).
Opting to bat first, the Kiwis posted 251/7 on the board thanks to half-centuries from Michael Bracewell (53* off 40) and Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101).
Indian spinners once again did a remarkable job as the trio of Kuldeep Yadav (2-40 in 10 overs), Varun Chakaravarthy (2-45 in 10 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-30 in 10 overs) shared five scalps among them.
Chasing the target, the Men in Blue got off to a fabulous start as the duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on 105 runs for the opening wicket.
Mitchell Santner drew the first blood for New Zealand, dismissing Gill for 31 in the 19th over. Bracewell got rid of Virat Kohli for just 1 in the very next over to reduce India to 106/2. As the Kiwi spinners tightened the screws in the middle overs, Rohit attempted a big shot against Rachin Ravindra only to get stumped for 76 (83 balls).
Subsequently, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stitched a 61-run partnership to bail India out of trouble. However, Santner and Bracewell once again brought New Zealand back in the game by removing Shreyas and Axar for 48 and 29, respectively.
With 49 needed off 51 balls, Hardik Pandya joined KL Rahul in the middle and the pair added 38 runs to put India on the brink of victory. While Pandya fell in the 48th over after scoring run-a-ball 18, Rahul (34*) stayed till the end and took India over the line alongside Ravindra Jadeja (9*) with four wickets and an over to spare.
The international cricket fraternity congratulated Rohit Sharma’s men for their unbeaten campaign, which gave India their third Champions Trophy title.
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