India emerged victorious in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With an explosive knock from skipper Rohit Sharma and key contributions from Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, India successfully chased down the 252-run target with an over to spare.
Rohit Sharma Leads from the Front
India’s chase was off to a strong start, thanks to a brilliant knock by captain Rohit Sharma. He played an aggressive yet composed innings, scoring 76 off 83 balls. Rohit set the tone in the powerplay and reached his half-century in just 41 balls. His crucial 105-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill put India in a commanding position.
New Zealand, however, struck back with quick breakthroughs. Glenn Phillips took a stunning catch to dismiss Gill for 31 off 50 balls, followed by Michael Bracewell trapping Virat Kohli LBW for just 1. Rohit continued to anchor the innings but was eventually stumped for 76 off 83 deliveries.
Middle Order Resilience
With the game finely balanced, Shreyas Iyer (48 off 62) and Axar Patel (29 off 40) stitched together a 61-run stand to stabilize India’s innings. However, their dismissals brought fresh tension to the chase. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya then played crucial knocks, guiding India closer to the target. While Hardik departed for 18, KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 34 off 33 balls, ensuring India’s victory with one over remaining.
India’s Spinners Dominate
Earlier in the match, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. Their openers, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young, put up a 57-run stand before India’s spin attack took control. Varun Chakravarthy struck first, trapping Young LBW for 15. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Rachin for 37 and followed it up by removing Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson for 11.
Ravindra Jadeja joined the attack and dismissed Tom Latham (14), while Daryl Mitchell played a patient innings, scoring 63 off 101 balls. Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 53 off 40 balls helped New Zealand reach a respectable total of 251/7 in 50 overs. However, with India’s balanced bowling attack and disciplined chase, the target was not enough.
India Lifts the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
With this victory, India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy title, solidifying their dominance in world cricket. Rohit Sharma’s leadership, Virat Kohli’s consistency, and the team’s all-round performance played a key role in this triumph. The win marks another historic moment for Indian cricket fans, as the Men in Blue celebrate yet another major ICC tournament victory.