Dubai: In a gripping final at the Dubai International Stadium, India secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title with a six-wicket victory over New Zealand, chasing down a target of 252 with six balls to spare. The triumph adds to India’s previous titles in 2002 and 2013, surpassing Australia’s tally of two.
India, the world’s top-ranked ODI team, remained unbeaten throughout the eight-nation tournament, which was played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The team opted to play all its matches in Dubai due to political tensions preventing their travel to Pakistan.
Rohit’s Blistering Start and Rahul’s Steady Finish
Chasing 252, Indian captain Rohit Sharma provided a solid foundation with a fluent half-century—his first of the tournament. He took on the New Zealand pace attack, hitting a six and two fours in a single over off Nathan Smith, bringing up his fifty in just 41 balls.
However, New Zealand’s spinners turned the tide in their favor. A breathtaking catch by Glenn Phillips at extra cover sent Shubman Gill (31) back to the pavilion, and Virat Kohli soon followed, dismissed lbw for one by Michael Bracewell. Rohit was stumped by Tom Latham off Rachin Ravindra’s bowling, reducing India from 105 without loss to 122-3.
Shreyas Iyer (48) attempted to stabilize the chase but fell to Mitchell Santner, leaving India struggling at 203-5. Despite losing Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya (18), KL Rahul kept his composure, playing an unbeaten 34-run knock, while Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning boundary to seal victory.
India’s Spin Strength Restricts New Zealand
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, posting 251-7 in their 50 overs. The Black Caps’ innings was anchored by Daryl Mitchell (63) and a quickfire 53* from Michael Bracewell. However, India’s spin quartet proved decisive yet again, with Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav taking two wickets each to stifle New Zealand’s batting momentum.
New Zealand faced setbacks, missing their pace spearhead Matt Henry due to a shoulder injury, while captain Kane Williamson, who scored 11, was unable to take the field in the second innings due to a quad strain.
Indian Fans Celebrate in Dubai
The victory was met with loud cheers from a predominantly Indian crowd at the stadium, creating a sea of blue as fans celebrated their team’s achievement. India’s dominant display throughout the tournament underlined their supremacy in ODI cricket, with their effective use of spin playing a crucial role in their title-winning campaign.
With this victory, India cements its place as one of the most successful teams in ICC tournaments, setting sights on future global events with renewed confidence.
(Pic: gettyimages)
