Dubai, March 9, 2025 – India emerged victorious in a nail-biting final, defeating New Zealand by four wickets to claim their third ICC Champions Trophy title. Chasing 252 runs on a tricky surface at the Dubai International Stadium, the Men in Blue held their nerve to script a historic win, further cementing their dominance in world cricket.

This victory marks India’s seventh ICC title, making them the second-most successful team in ICC events after Australia, who hold 10 ICC trophies. Rohit Sharma also etched his name in history, becoming only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to win multiple ICC trophies, having previously led India to a T20 World Cup victory less than a year ago.

India’s Journey to a Record-Breaking Third Champions Trophy Win

India’s first Champions Trophy title came in 2002 when they were joint winners with Sri Lanka. They won their second title in 2013 under MS Dhoni’s leadership. With this 2025 triumph, India becomes the first team to win three Champions Trophy titles, surpassing Australia, who have two (2006 and 2009).

This win not only enhances India's stature in international cricket but also establishes Rohit Sharma as one of India’s most successful captains, following in the footsteps of MS Dhoni, who remains the only other Indian skipper to win both the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup.

Varun, Kuldeep Shine with the Ball as India Restricts New Zealand to 251/7

After winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat first and got off to a steady start, with Rachin Ravindra and Will Young putting together the tournament’s first fifty-run opening stand against India. However, once spinners came into play, New Zealand struggled to build on their strong start.

• Varun Chakravarthy struck first, dismissing Will Young.
• Kuldeep Yadav made an immediate impact, removing Rachin Ravindra with his first ball.
• Kane Williamson followed soon after, falling to Kuldeep in the very next over.

Despite early setbacks, Daryl Mitchell played the anchor role, scoring 63 runs off 101 balls, while Michael Bracewell provided late momentum with a quickfire 53 off 40 balls. New Zealand finished at 251/7, with Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) being the pick of the Indian bowlers.

Rohit’s Explosive Fifty Sets Up India’s Chase

Chasing 252, India started aggressively with Rohit Sharma leading from the front, smashing an explosive 76 to give the team a solid platform. However, the chase got tricky when India lost three quick wickets—Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma—in succession, shifting the momentum towards New Zealand.

Just when the game seemed evenly poised, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Axar Patel stepped up, playing crucial knocks to steer India to victory with six balls to spare.

• KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 34, ensuring composure in the final overs.
• Axar Patel played a valuable supporting role, absorbing pressure and guiding India towards the finish line.

India’s Historic Triumph and Rohit Sharma’s Leadership Legacy

With this title, India has now won seven ICC trophies, standing second only to Australia. Rohit Sharma’s leadership continues to shine, as he joins MS Dhoni as the only Indian captains to have won both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.

As the celebrations erupted in Dubai, Ravindra Jadeja fittingly hit the winning runs, sparking wild celebrations among players and fans. This victory will be remembered as another golden chapter in Indian cricket history.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 251/7 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 53, Rachin Ravindra 37; Kuldeep Yadav 2/40, Varun Chakravarthy 2/45)
India: 252/6 in 49 overs (Rohit Sharma 76, KL Rahul 34, Shreyas Iyer 28; Trent Boult 2/48, Matt Henry 2/52)

With this hard-fought yet historic triumph, India further solidifies its legacy as one of the greatest cricketing nations on the global stage.