Udaipur, March 9, 2025: An unbeaten Team India wrapped up the Champions Trophy Final, beating New Zealand by 4 wickets.

Three tournaments and just a one game loss have ensured that the Indian team has its outfit ready to be dressed for any occasion. Post the 2023 ODI World Cup defeat, the team has charged out like never before. The 2024 T20 World Cup already under their belt, the Champions Trophy is also now theirs for the keeping after over a decade.

The run up to the finals of the Champions Trophy came with clinical dominance against all their opponents on the field. New Zealand, who looked overwhelming after their 40 run rout of South Africa in one of the highest scoring 50 over matches, started the proceedings in the final match with confidence. As Kohli said in the post match interview, they are a team who come and execute their plans to the ‘T’. They did just that.

A brief hiccup in the chase for India resulted from an acrobatic catch by Glenn Phillips off Santner that saw the back of Shubman Gill, followed by the dismissal of Kohli who scored a single before going down LBW to Bracewell.

Earlier in the Kiwi batting, a significant high run rate opening partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Young looked like New Zealand were in for putting up a huge total once again. However, a clinical spin bowling attack from Varun Chaturvedi and Kuldeep Yadav sent back Young and Ravindra in succession followed by Kane Williamson. Daryl Mitchell looked rock solid with wickets falling around him. He received apt support from Phillips and Bracewell, but the run rate which looked overwhelming in the first 6 overs, was squeezed down to 5 RPO by the end of play. With 251 on board for the Indian batsmen to chase, the Kiwis had a task on hand.

India began their batting with a fiery onslaught from Rohit Sharma, who explained later after the match that in this tournament his approach to attack was amended. He was experimenting but albeit with a clear thought process. This attack saw India reach its first 100 in the 17th over, without a wicket lost. A blinder of a catch from Glenn Phillips saw the back of Shubman Gill in the 19th over followed by a shocking dismissal of Virat Kohli who went out legbefore to Bracewell, scoring just one run. This silenced the Dubai crowd.

Rohit did not stop and was well supported by Shreyas Iyer. His aggressive stance led to his dismissal when he stepped out to a smart delivery from Rachin, only to be stumped far out of his crease, by Tom Latham, bringing his 76 run onslaught to an end.

Shreyas and Axar Patel then got together for a 61 run partnership that ended with Iyer missing his half century by just two runs as he was caught by Rachin off a Santner delivery.

The match looked perfectly balanced and the Kiwis were in no mood to let India get the trophy easily, specially when their bowling attack was in full flow picking up wickets time and again. The Kiwi fielding was superb and many boundaries were saved. The Indian team, which boasts of a deep batting line up with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja coming in at number 8, used its experience to tip toe back into the game as the required run rate was not at all overwhelming, thanks to the foundation led by the openers. After Iyer’s departure, it was KL Rahul who played the anchor role and led india to victory with the help of three partnerships, viz. Axar, Hardik and finally Jadeja. With six wickets in hand and an over remaining to be bowled, India finally wrapped up their second ICC trophy in less than 6 months and are stationed right at the top now.