India Claims Thrilling Victory Over New Zealand in Champions Trophy Final

Dubai, UAE — In a captivating finale on March 9, 2025, India triumphed over New Zealand by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, securing their third ICC Champions Trophy title after a 12-year wait. Captain Rohit Sharma (76 runs off 83 balls) played a pivotal role in the chase of 252 runs, leading his team to victory.

New Zealand, batting first, set a competitive target of 251/7, with key contributions from Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (53 not out off 40 balls). India’s spinners, notably Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, took center stage, taking two wickets each while restricting the Kiwi scoring.

Chasing 252, India started strong, with Rohit and Shubman Gill forming a solid opening partnership of 105 runs. However, the middle overs saw a mini-collapse, reducing India to 122/3 at one stage. “The crowd here has been magnificent; they made it our home ground,” Rohit said after the match. KL Rahul steadied the innings with an unbeaten 34 off 33 deliveries, guiding India across the finish line with six balls to spare.

Post-match, Rohit Sharma received praise for his leadership and performance, and he was named Player of the Match. He stated, “It’s been amazing; we wanted to bounce back after a tough Australian tour.” Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged their opponents, saying, “We were beaten by a good side who turned up today.”

This victory not only reinstates India’s dominance in ODI cricket but also confirms their status as the most successful team in Champions Trophy history.