GUWAHATI: India secured their ICC Champions Trophy title after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9. Chasing a target of 252, India reached 254 for 6 in 49 overs, with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja guiding the team to victory. Rohit Sharma was named Player of the Match for his impressive 76 runs off 83 balls.
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Hardik Pandya played a crucial role towards the end, contributing vital runs before being dismissed in the 48th over. This win marks India’s second ICC title in less than a year and their first 50-over trophy since 2013.
India's triumph saw them surpass Australia as the most successful team in Champions Trophy history, with three titles. The victory also extended India's impressive run in the tournament, having reached their third consecutive final. They had previously won the trophy in 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013.
Earlier, Indian spinners played a pivotal role in restricting New Zealand to 251 for 7 in 50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2 for 40, while Varun Chakravarthy impressed with figures of 2 for 45. Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami chipped in with a wicket each.
New Zealand, led by captain Mitchell Santner, opted to bat first after winning the toss. The Kiwis faced early setbacks but recovered through crucial knocks from Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53), which ensured they crossed the 250-run mark.
India’s spinners, collectively bowled 38 overs — one of the highest by the Indian side in an ODI match. This closely followed their record 41.2 overs of spin bowled against West Indies in 2011. Other notable instances include 39 overs against Kenya in 1998 and 37.3 overs in a previous Champions Trophy encounter against New Zealand in Dubai.
Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Tournament for his standout performances throughout the competition.