India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Final:
The Indian team triumphed over New Zealand to claim the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title. In the final match held at Dubai International Stadium on March 9, India won by four wickets. Chasing a target of 252, India clinched the victory on the last ball of the 49th over, largely owing to Rohit Sharma's leadership. 'Player of the Match' Rohit Sharma laid the groundwork for victory with a commendable score of 76 runs.
This marks the third time India has won the Champions Trophy. Initially, they were joint champions with Sri Lanka in 2002. In 2013, under MS Dhoni's leadership, India claimed the title again. Now, under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, India has made history.
Rohit's Blazing Innings, Shreyas-Rahul's Solid Performance
India got off to a good start while chasing the target. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill shared a century partnership of 105 runs for the first wicket. Rohit was in an aggressive mood, reaching his fifty in just 41 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Gill batted more cautiously. Gill was caught out by Glenn Phillips off Mitchell Santner's delivery after scoring 31 runs from 50 balls with one six. India then quickly lost Virat Kohli, who was dismissed LBW by Michael Bracewell for just 1 run.
Subsequently, India lost Rohit Sharma, who was stumped off Rachin Ravindra's delivery while attempting a big shot. Rohit scored 76 runs from 83 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. At the time of Rohit's dismissal, India was at 122 for 3. Following his departure, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer stabilized India with a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Unfortunately, Shreyas missed out on his fifty.
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Shreyas scored 48 runs from 62 balls with two sixes and two fours. He was caught by Rachin Ravindra off Mitchell Santner's delivery. India then lost Axar Patel (29), who was caught by William O'Rourke off Bracewell's delivery. At Shreyas' dismissal, India was at 203 for 5. From there, KL Rahul led India to victory with an unbeaten 34 runs. Hardik Pandya (18) and Ravindra Jadeja (9*) also made useful contributions.
India's Innings Scorecard: (254/6, 49 Overs)
Fall of Wickets:
105-1 (Shubman Gill, 18.4 overs), 106-2 (Virat Kohli, 19.1 overs), 122-3 (Rohit Sharma, 26.1 overs), 183-4 (Shreyas Iyer, 38.4 overs), 203-5 (Axar Patel, 41.3 overs), 241-6 (Hardik Pandya, 47.3 overs)
Centurion Opening Partnership in Champions Trophy Final
141 - Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (India) vs New Zealand, Nairobi, 2000 128 - Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) vs India, The Oval, 2017 105 - Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (India) vs New Zealand, Dubai, 2025
Bracewell-Mitchell's Half-Centuries for New Zealand
Winning the toss and batting first, New Zealand posted a score of 251 for seven wickets. The Kiwi team started strong with Rachin Ravindra and Will Young forming a 57-run partnership in 7.5 overs. During this partnership, Ravindra's catch was dropped first by Mohammad Shami and then by Shreyas Iyer. India finally got their first breakthrough through Varun Chakravarthy, who trapped Will Young (15) LBW. Kuldeep Yadav then bowled Rachin Ravindra to give India their second success. Ravindra scored 37 runs in 29 balls, including four fours and one six. Kuldeep also dismissed veteran batsman Kane Williamson, who offered a return catch.
At Kane Williamson's departure (11), New Zealand was at 75 for 3. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham tried to steady the Kiwi innings with a 33-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Ravindra Jadeja ended this partnership by trapping Latham (14) LBW. After the fourth wicket fell at 108 runs, Mitchell formed a 57-run partnership with Glenn Phillips for the fifth wicket.
Glenn Phillips couldn't read Varun Chakravarthy's googly and was bowled. He scored 34 runs from 52 balls with two fours and a six. Soon after, Daryl Mitchell reached his fifty in 91 balls, but was eventually dismissed for 63. Mitchell's innings comprised three fours. Mohammad Shami had him caught by Rohit Sharma.
From there, Michael Bracewell played a stormy innings to take New Zealand to a respectable score. Bracewell remained unbeaten with 53 runs from 40 balls, including three fours and two sixes, adding 28 runs for the seventh wicket with Captain Mitchell Santner. Santner was run out for 8 runs. For India, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each, while Mohammad Shami and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.
New Zealand's Innings Scorecard: (251/7, 50 Overs)
Fall of Wickets:
57-1 (Will Young, 7.5 overs), 69-2 (Rachin Ravindra, 10.1 overs), 75-3 (Kane Williamson, 12.2 overs), 108-4 (Tom Latham, 23.2 overs), 165-5 (Glenn Phillips, 37.5 overs), 211-6 (Daryl Mitchell, 45.4 overs), 239-7 (Mitchell Santner, 49 overs)
India defeated Australia by 4 wickets in the semi-final, while the Kiwis overpowered South Africa by 50 runs to secure the final match spot. India went into the final match with no changes, playing the same lineup that brought them victory in the last two matches. The Indian squad comprised 4 specialist batters, 1 wicketkeeper-batsman, 1 batting all-rounder, 2 spin-bowling all-rounders, 1 frontline fast bowler, and 2 specialist spinners. On the Kiwi side, fast bowler Nathan Smith entered the squad. Matt Henry missed out on the match due to an injury.
India's Playing Eleven:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami.
New Zealand's Playing Eleven:
Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (Wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke.
India-New Zealand H2H:
Total ODI Matches: 120 India Won: 62 New Zealand Won: 50 No Result: 7 Tied: 1
Teams That Have Won the Champions Trophy So Far
Indian Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar.
