India clinch ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title

India secured their third ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The win came after a collective bowling effort, followed by a brilliant half-century from captain Rohit Sharma.

This triumph marks India’s third Champions Trophy victory, having previously won the prestigious tournament in 2002 and 2013.

Chasing a target of 252, the 2013 champions comfortably reached the target, losing six wickets with six balls to spare.

India got off to a strong start, thanks to a solid 105-run partnership between the in-form opening pair of Rohit Sharma and top-ranked ODI batter Shubman Gill. Sharma was the dominant force in the partnership, while Gill held firm at the other end until he was dismissed by Mitchell Santner, with Glenn Phillips taking a stunning catch at short cover. Gill scored 31 off 50 balls, including one six.

India then lost two quick wickets as Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra dismissed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, respectively. Kohli was dismissed for just one run, while Sharma top-scored for India with 76 runs off 83 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.

After a brief top-order collapse, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership. However, both were dismissed within 20 balls. Iyer scored 48 off 62 balls, with two fours and two sixes, while Patel made 29 off 40 balls.

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul then put together a 38-run partnership in just six overs to bring India closer to the target. Pandya was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson, but Rahul kept his calm and guided India over the line with an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls.

For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner and Bracewell took two wickets each, while Ravindra and Jamieson claimed one wicket apiece.

New Zealand’s decision to bat first didn’t work out as planned, as their batting unit managed just 251/7 in their allotted overs despite a half-century from Daryl Mitchell.

The Blackcaps started their innings with a brisk 57-run partnership between openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra played the more aggressive role, while Young was dismissed for 15 off 23 balls by Varun Chakravarthy in the eighth over.

Kuldeep Yadav then struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Ravindra and Kane Williamson to leave New Zealand at 75/3 in the 12.2 overs. Ravindra scored 37 off 29 balls, while Williamson made 11 off 14 balls.

Mitchell then took charge of New Zealand’s innings, scoring a composed half-century. He formed important partnerships with Glenn Phillips (34) and Bracewell before being dismissed by Mohammed Shami in the 46th over. Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with 63 runs off 101 balls, hitting three boundaries.

Bracewell remained unbeaten on 53 off 40 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.

For India, Yadav and Chakravarthy picked up two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja and Shami claimed one wicket each.

India's well-rounded performance led them to a well deserved victory, sealing their third Champions Trophy title in front of an ecstatic crowd.