India Triumph Over New Zealand to Clinch Champions Trophy

• Mar 10, 2025

Champions Trophy Final, Dubai

New Zealand 251-7 (50 overs): Mitchell 63 (101), Bracewell 53 (40); Kuldeep 2-40, Chakravarthy 2-45
India 254-6 (49 overs): Rohit 76 (83); Bracewell 2-28, Santner 2-46
India won by four wickets

India secured their third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a tense final in Dubai. Despite a resilient fightback from the Kiwis, India held their nerve to chase down the target with an over to spare.

Dominating throughout the tournament, India looked in command early in their pursuit of 252, but a sudden collapse saw them lose three wickets for 17 runs, including captain Rohit Sharma (76) and Virat Kohli (1). Shreyas Iyer contributed 48, while Axar Patel’s dismissal for 29 left India needing 49 runs from 51 balls.

Hardik Pandya played a crucial role before falling for 18, leaving KL Rahul (34*) to steer India home alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who hit the winning runs in front of a raucous, partisan crowd.

Earlier, India’s spinners had once again been instrumental in restricting New Zealand to 251-7. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy led the attack, stifling New Zealand’s batting lineup despite crucial contributions from Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53).

With this victory, India reaffirmed their dominance in white-ball cricket. Since their heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final, they have bounced back emphatically, claiming both the T20 World Cup and now the Champions Trophy – their first triumph in this event since 2013.

While celebrations erupted in Dubai, discussions continued about the tournament’s scheduling and India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, which shifted the final from Lahore. The event struggled to generate sustained excitement, with India playing all their matches in Dubai amid debate over perceived advantages.

Still, the final delivered late drama. Rohit set the tone with an aggressive start against New Zealand’s depleted pace attack, missing leading wicket-taker Matt Henry due to injury. Though India faced a stern test, their depth and quality ensured they remained favorites throughout.

This victory also eases the burden of past near-misses, particularly for veterans like Rohit and Kohli, who endured the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup final. With India set to co-host the next T20 World Cup in 2026, the challenge now lies with the rest of the cricketing world: how do they stop this dominant Indian side?