India clinched their third Champions Trophy title in 2025 after a thrilling chase led by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Despite a stiff challenge from New Zealand, India managed to chase down the target of 251 on a tricky Dubai surface. Rohit Sharma’s aggressive start set the tone for the chase as India got off to a rollicking start. However, New Zealand fought back with their spinners and took crucial wickets to put pressure on India.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel steadied the innings with a crucial partnership before Patel’s dismissal. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya then kept India in the game with some smart batting, eventually guiding them to victory. New Zealand had put up a competitive total thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s fighting innings, but India’s spin quartet managed to control the game and restrict their opponents.
Overall, it was a thrilling final that saw India emerge as the champions once again, showcasing their depth and resilience in pressure situations. Kuldeep Yadav made a significant impact on the game with his first delivery, bamboozling Ravindra with a wrong ‘un. He further tilted the game in India’s favor by dismissing Kane Williamson with a well-taken return catch. New Zealand, at 75/3, had to slow down their scoring rate as the spinners Jadeja and Patel tightened the screws in the middle overs. Despite a few dropped catches, Mitchell and Phillips managed a resilient partnership before Phillips fell to Chakaravarthy’s googly. Mitchell reached a hard-fought fifty and combined well with Bracewell to push New Zealand past 200. However, Bracewell’s efforts were not enough as India chased down the target of 252 with Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer contributing significantly. The spinners played a crucial role in restricting New Zealand’s scoring opportunities, ultimately leading to India’s victory by four wickets.
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