March 9, 2025 | 21:48 IST
India ended a 12-year wait to lift their third Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this victory, India became the most successful team in Champions Trophy history, surpassing Australia’s two titles.
Rohit Sharma Leads from the Front with a Masterclass Knock
India’s chase of 252 began with a display of aggressive intent, spearheaded by captain Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener set the tone early, attacking the Kiwi bowlers with confidence and precision. He raced to his half-century in just 41 balls, striking three towering sixes and a flurry of boundaries that had the crowd on its feet. His 76-run blitz off 54 balls provided India with the perfect launchpad, ensuring the required run rate remained manageable.
Despite the early promise, the chase wasn’t without its hurdles. The dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in quick succession put pressure on India, while Rohit’s departure at a crucial juncture allowed New Zealand to claw back into the contest. However, the middle order stood firm, with Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stitching together a valuable partnership to keep India on track. Later, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya played with maturity, soaking up the pressure before Ravindra Jadeja finished things off in style, striking the winning runs in the penultimate over off Will O’Rourke.
India’s White-Ball Dominance Continues on the Global Stage
This victory cements India’s position as the undisputed powerhouse of white-ball cricket. Following their T20 World Cup triumph just eight months ago in Barbados, the Men in Blue have once again showcased their ability to perform under pressure on the biggest stage. Remarkably, since the beginning of the 2023 ODI World Cup, India has played 23 matches across three major ICC limited-overs events, suffering only one defeat—the heartbreaking ODI World Cup final loss to Australia.
The Champions Trophy win also strengthens Rohit Sharma’s legacy as one of India’s greatest captains. With this victory, he joins the legendary MS Dhoni as only the second Indian skipper to win multiple ICC trophies, further solidifying his place in cricketing history.
India’s Legacy in ICC Tournaments Grows Stronger
India’s latest triumph adds another prestigious title to their already impressive collection of ICC trophies. The country has now won seven major ICC titles since their groundbreaking 1983 World Cup victory under Kapil Dev.
India’s ICC Title Wins:
ODI Titles:
- 1983 Cricket World Cup
- 2011 Cricket World Cup
- 2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
- 2013 Champions Trophy
- 2025 Champions Trophy
T20 Titles:
- 2007 T20 World Cup
- 2024 T20 World Cup
With this victory, India edges closer to Australia’s record of 10 ICC trophies and reaffirms their status as a cricketing giant. As the team looks ahead to future tournaments, their continued dominance in the limited-overs format promises more thrilling moments for Indian cricket fans worldwide.