ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Final: India vs New Zealand
Played at Dubai International Stadium, UAE, on 9 March 2025
New Zealand: 251/7 (Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 51*, Rachin Ravindra 37, Glenn Phillips 34, Kuldeep Yadav 2/40, Varun Chakravarthy 2/45)
India: 254/6 in 49 Overs (Rohit Sharma 76, Shreyas Iyer 48, KL Rahul 34, Shubman Gill 31, Axar Patel 29, Michael Bracewell 2/28, Mitchell Santner 2/46)
India won by 4 wickets with an over to spare
Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma
Man of the Series: Rachin Ravindra
Rohit Sharma-led tournament favorites, Team India, defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final at Dubai International Stadium, securing the PCB-organized Champions Trophy, played in a hybrid format.
While not an excuse, the victory could have been spotless had India not refused to visit Pakistan, unlike the other participants. Throughout the tournament, there were no security concerns, as all seven other teams played matches in three Pakistani cities.
Winning the toss and batting first, New Zealand struggled against India's top-quality spinners and managed a below-par 251/7 in their allotted overs. India, despite minor difficulties, chased down the target, scoring 254/6 to win by four wickets. It is worth noting that India, stationed in Dubai, played all its matches at the same venue, which provided a significant advantage. The pitch and conditions in Dubai are vastly different from those in Pakistan.
However, India had the right players suited for Dubai's spin-friendly, slower surface. This should not be seen as an excuse for other teams, as India played high-quality cricket throughout. Over two weeks, they secured victories against Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand (twice), and Australia. Only South Africa and Afghanistan did not face them.
New Zealand, after winning the toss, opted to bat. Rohit Sharma lost his 12th consecutive toss, a record for a skipper. India has now lost 15 consecutive tosses in international matches. New Zealand started well, with in-form Rachin Ravindra (37) and Will Young (15) producing 57 runs in 7.5 overs. However, the introduction of leg-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav turned the game around. These two, along with left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, stifled the Black Caps' middle order.
Even skilled batters like Kane Williamson and Tom Latham struggled before getting out. Only Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Glenn Phillips (34 off 52 balls) put up some resistance. The situation could have been worse if not for Michael Bracewell, who played a crucial late cameo, scoring an unbeaten 51 in the final overs. Nevertheless, 251/7 was at least 25 runs short of what could have been a match-winning total on this pitch.
However, being a final, any target on the board posed a challenge, provided New Zealand could strike early and take wickets consistently. Rohit Sharma led from the front, playing a match-winning knock of 76 off 83 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. His 105-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill (31) set the foundation. Although Indian icon Virat Kohli failed to fire, other batters—Shreyas Iyer (48), KL Rahul (34*), and Axar Patel (29)—ensured India comfortably chased down the target, reaching 254/6 with an over to spare. India handled New Zealand's spinners better than their counterparts, ultimately deserving the trophy.
However, even India's staunchest supporters cannot deny the unfair advantage of playing all their matches at the same venue while other teams had to shuttle between Pakistani cities and travel to Dubai.
Congratulations to Rohit Sharma for leading from the front and securing another title. It remains to be seen how long Indian icons Rohit and Virat will continue in international cricket and ODIs. Rohit was named Player of the Match, while New Zealand’s Indian-origin batsman Rachin Ravindra was declared Player of the Series.
BDST: 1137 HRS, MAR 10, 2025
SMS
