DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — India clinched another prestigious title by securing a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the thrilling final of the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The triumph marked India’s third win in the history of the tournament and further solidified their status as a formidable force in global cricket.
Leading the charge was Rohit Sharma, who played a spectacular innings, scoring 76 runs off 83 balls. His efforts, combined with Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 34, guided India to surpass New Zealand’s total, reaching 254-6 in 49 overs. New Zealand had earlier set a target of 251-7 in their allotted 50 overs on a challenging Dubai pitch that offered varied bounce and pace.
The New Zealand innings was bolstered by half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell, providing a solid foundation for the team after choosing to bat first. India’s response was spearheaded by Sharma, who set the tone with an aggressive start, hitting seven fours and three sixes. Hardik Pandya contributed a crucial 18 runs at a run-a-ball pace, forming a vital 38-run partnership with Rahul for the sixth wicket.
Acknowledged for his stellar performance, Sharma was named the player of the match. Reflecting on the victory, he commented, “We played outstanding cricket throughout the challenge. I aimed to bat aggressively, and having depth in batting permits that freedom.”
India’s victory marks an impressive run of 23 wins in the last 24 games across the previous three ICC events since 2023, with their only defeat coming in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final against Australia. The team had also emerged victorious in the Twenty20 World Cup final against South Africa last year.
Both India and New Zealand have previously enjoyed success in the Champions Trophy, with India previously winning in 2013 and sharing the trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 after rain disruptions. New Zealand, on the other hand, won the tournament in 2000, defeating India in the final held in Nairobi, Kenya – their solitary limited-overs ICC trophy.
Due to security concerns, India played all its matches in Dubai as the Indian government did not permit travel to Pakistan, the designated host. Sharma set the tone early with a six off the second ball, signifying a dominant intent. His cautious batting partner, Shubman Gill contributed 31 runs, helping establish a solid opening partnership of 105 in just under 19 overs.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner brought about a turnaround with spectacular fielding, while Bracewell managed to trap Indian stalwart Virat Kohli lbw for just one run. The pressure mounted from New Zealand’s bowlers saw Sharma stumped off Rachin Ravindra, leaving India at 122-3.
Shreyas Iyer pushed the innings forward with a resolute 48 off 62 deliveries, forming a crucial 61-run partnership with Axar Patel. The equation became favorable for India as Patel’s innings helped the score surpass 200, although he soon fell to Bracewell’s delivery.
In the closing stages, Rahul and Pandya combined caution with tactical aggression to steer India towards victory. Despite Pandya’s catch being taken near the end, Rahul ensured there were no further surprises as India celebrated its second ICC men’s title in two years. Ravindra Jadeja fittingly hit the winning runs.
The tournament saw India go unbeaten, overcoming challenges posed by Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the group stages and brushing aside Australia in the semifinals. New Zealand had a commendable run themselves, defeating Pakistan and Bangladesh before facing India and then beating South Africa in the semifinal match held in Lahore.
Reflecting on the journey, New Zealand’s Santner remarked, “The tournament has been a substantial learning curve for us. Despite the hurdles, we’ve grown as a team and delivered commendable performances. However, India played exceptionally today, with Rohit’s innings putting us in a difficult position.”
