Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian cricket team on their remarkable ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he praised the team’s performance, calling it an “exceptional game and an exceptional result.” He lauded their efforts throughout the tournament, expressing pride in their all-round display.
Led by Rohit Sharma, India secured a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium. This victory marks India’s third Champions Trophy title, having previously shared the honor with Sri Lanka in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly’s leadership and claiming the trophy outright in 2013 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
India’s Commanding Performance
Batting first, New Zealand set a target of 252 runs, finishing at 251-7 in their 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell contributed crucial half-centuries, but the slow-paced Dubai pitch proved challenging. India’s spinners played a key role in restricting the Kiwis, with Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja collectively taking five wickets.
India’s chase began on a strong note, as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill built a 105-run partnership. Sharma led from the front with a solid 76 off 83 balls, while KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 34 to see India through to victory, reaching 254-6 in 49 overs.
However, New Zealand fought back with key breakthroughs from Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell, keeping the contest tense. Virat Kohli, who played a pivotal role in India’s semifinal victory over Australia with a crucial 84, fell for just one run in the final, trapped leg before by Bracewell. Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) provided stability but lost their wickets to aggressive strokes, adding some drama to the chase.
With this win, India maintained an unbeaten streak in the tournament, reaffirming their dominance in international cricket. Meanwhile, New Zealand, despite a strong showing, missed out on adding to their only ICC limited-overs trophy—the 2000 Champions Trophy (then known as the ICC Knockout Trophy), where they defeated India in the final.
