NEW DELHI: India has triumphed in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Under the leadership of captain Rohit Sharma, India’s spinners played a pivotal role in restricting New Zealand to 251 runs. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy delivered impactful performances, applying relentless pressure on the Kiwi batsmen.

This victory marks India’s third Champions Trophy title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history. It also ends a 12-year drought for an ICC ODI title, with their last triumph dating back to the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.

Despite a spectacular catch by Glenn Phillips to dismiss Shubman Gill, which momentarily shifted momentum in New Zealand’s favor, India remained resolute. Contributions from Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and an unbeaten knock from KL Rahul guided India to their target, securing victory with nine balls to spare.

Led by Rohit Sharma, India successfully chased down 252 runs with composure. Sharma’s steady 76 off 83 balls laid the foundation, while crucial contributions from Iyer (48), Patel (29), and Rahul (34*), ensured a smooth finish. Ravindra Jadeja sealed the victory with a boundary in the penultimate over.

This triumph further cements India’s dominance in international cricket and marks Rohit Sharma’s second ICC trophy win within nine months. Notably, he had previously led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, making India only the third team to win the T20 World Cup twice.

New Zealand, despite battling valiantly and dealing with the absence of key bowler Matt Henry, fell just short. Their efforts were commendable, with standout performances from Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell, but they ultimately could not overcome India’s resilience.

India’s victory in the Champions Trophy highlights a perfect blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent, setting the stage for continued success in international cricket. Also, post the match, addressing retirement speculations, Sharma dismissed rumors of stepping away from the 50-over format, reaffirming his commitment to India’s future endeavors.