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India wins its third Champions Trophy title in Dubai on 9 March. Rohit Sharma lost the toss for the 15th consecutive time by 4 wickets. The Men in Blue lifted the Champions Trophy after 12 years. New Zealand after winning the toss opted to bat first. Rachin Ravindra, the young Kiwi opener had to depart after a promising start. Star batter Kane Williamson also could not manage to create an impact. Daryl Mitchell scored a slow yet crucial half century of 63 runs in 101 balls. Michael Bracewell’s half century led the team to a reasonable score of 251 against the Indians.
Indians batting second, started strongly with a 100+ runs partnership without losing any wickets. Both the openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill seemed good at the crease with Rohit attacking from one end while Gill building the innings from the other. Rohit reached another explosive half century of 76 runs. Gill was dismissed with a phenomenal aerial catch from the ‘Flying Kiwi’, Glenn Phillips at short covers at 31 runs. The Chase master Virat Kohli was dismissed by Michael Bracewell on 1 run. Shreyas Iyer fell short of just 2 runs from a potential half century. Axar Patel gave a good hand with the bat under pressure when ultimately he was caught at deep mid wicket. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja led the team to victory.
The Dubai pitch justified why it was known for its turn. Indian spinners Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav were great with their spell while Hardik Pandya just delivered 3 overs with the ball. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets each while Jadeja managed to put 1 wicket for himself in the bag with an exceptional economy. Kiwi spinners Santner, Bracewell, and Ravindra also displayed prowess with the ball.
Rohit collects the trophy. The rest of the team join him on the podium. The confetti goes off in the background as India celebrate under the CHAMPIONS 2024 board.
The winner's white jackets are being presented to the Indian players. Starting with Varun Chakaravarthy and they all come one by one.
I want to appreciate everyone who came out and supported us. The crowd here has been magnificent, it is not our home ground but they made our home ground. The number of people that came here to watch us play, to give them that win was satsifying. Not just this game but right through, our spinners in particular, there's too much expectations when you are playing on a pitch like that. We do understand their strengths and used it to our advantage. Very solid mind, nevers gets over-rawed by the pressure around him, that's the resason we wanted to have him in the middle phase, there's a bit of calmness when he bats and picks the right shot to play to the situation, he gives the freedom to others to play freely like Hardik.
It has been a good tournament. We had challenges along the way, but we have grown as a group and played some good cricket. We were beaten by a good side who turned up today. Lot of good stuff from our group, guys stepping up at different times and that's all you can ask as a captain. It was good bowling. We lost a couple of wickets after the powerplay. Credit to the way their spinners bowled, all four of them, world class. We were 25 under but we had a total, we tried to fight and that's what we did. He keeps doing it doesn't he.
Aaron Finch steps forward with the trophy and places it at the center of the dais.
The match officials, led by referee Ranjan Madugalle, make their way to the podium to receive their medals.
An exceptional game and an exceptional result! Proud of our cricket team for bringing home the ICC Champions Trophy. They’ve played wonderfully through the tournament. Congratulations to our team for the splendid all around display.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 9, 2025
It is very nice. We played some good cricket though the tournament. To have the result our way is a great feeling. [Aggressive style] Not natural to me, but something I really wanted to do. When you are doing something different, you have to have the backing of the team and management.
I spoke to Rahul bhai earlier and now Gauti bhai as well. It is something I really wanted to do. I have played all these years in a different style, and now we are getting the results with this. We have to understand the nature of the surfaces and I was very clear about how I wanted to execute the first five-six overs. I have gotten out as well earlier, but the execution matters. The depth gives me the freedom and it helps.
With Jadeja coming at 8, it gives you the confidence to go hard up front. As long as I am clear in my mind, it is great.
'It's been amazing, we wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour', It's been amazing, we wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour. Lovely playing with a bunch of amazing youngsters. They're stepping up and taking India in the right direction.
JADEJA FINISHES OFF IN STYLE! 🇮🇳TEAM INDIA WIN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 🏆#championstrophyonjiostar #indvnz #championstrophy pic.twitter.com/ismVCQQndD
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 9, 2025
That is how it is with me; sometimes a hero, sometimes a zero. The wicket was not easy for a new batter. Hardik and KL were great. Winning the CT is a huge thing. If you don't win a big tournament after playing so long, it hurts.
Always amazing to win an ICC event
Always amazing to win an ICC event. I remember 2017 very closely, couldn't finish that time. Very pleased to have done it here. KL was calm, he took his chances at the right time. He has immense talent, no one can time it as well as him.
𝗖. 𝗛. 𝗔. 𝗠. 𝗣. 𝗜. 𝗢. 𝗡. 𝗦! 🇮🇳🏆 🏆 🏆The Rohit Sharma-led #teamindia are ICC #championstrophy 2025 𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍𝙎 👏 👏Take A Bow! 🙌 🙌#indvnz | #final | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/ey2llSOYdG
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2025
A match that genuinely deserved its status as a final, with momentum shifting between both teams, but India emerged victorious in a nail-biting chase.
The Indian team rightfully claimed the 2025 Champions Trophy. Having stumbled at the last stage in 2017, they have now achieved their objective and secured the championship.
Although disappointed, New Zealand should be proud of their determined campaign, fighting valiantly until the conclusion, displaying the characteristic resilience of their national side, who consistently demonstrate unwavering determination.
We are the champion. Congratulations to team India for winning champions trophy.@BCCI @ICC
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) March 9, 2025
William ORourke to Jadeja, FOUR, INDIA are the CHAMPIONS. Jadeja has his hands aloft and blows a kiss to someone. Rahul too has his hands high up. The fireworks goes off on the ground. Some of the Indian players run onto the ground to lift Jadeja and Rahul. Jadeja points to the name on the back. Some of the ghosts of that 2023 World Cup loss might be buried with this victory.
Caught and bowled by Kyle Jamieson
Ravindra to Hardik Pandya, SIX, he did it against Australia and he's done it against Ravindra. This was not a bad delivery. Pushed through quicker at the stumps, but Hardik maintains a solid base and swings through the line.
Santner to Rahul, no run, tossed up on off, Rahul leans forward and pushes it back. Santner is done with his spell.
Axar Patel departs, tried for an aerial shot but got dismissed
Shreyas Iyer departs as skipper Santner clinches another wicket
Phillips to Shreyas Iyer, 1 run, a big moment in the match - Shreyas Iyer has been dropped by Jamieson, could it prove costly? Shreyas Iyer was itching to take on GP, runs down the pitch, gets too close to the ball and as such can't get the elevation needed, hit hard and flat - Jamieson had it covered as he slid across from long-on, but the ball somehow popped out of his grasp and fell onto the floor
Phillips to Shreyas Iyer, no run, GP tosses one just outside off, dropped in front of point and Shreyas Iyer wanted a single, rightly sent back by his partner
Phillips to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR, to deep square leg
Michael Bracewell to Axar, no run, flatter and wider of off, chopped straight to the fielder at backward point
-- Iyer gets going with a boundary off Santner-- New Zealand spinners put the squeeze-- Bracewell bowls a maiden to Iyer (26th over)-- Ravindra gets the big wicket of Rohit, stumped for 76-- Back to back maidens from New Zealand-- Young almost pulls off a stunner but it is a six for Iyer
Michael Bracewell to Shreyas Iyer, SIX, to deep mid-wicket
Ravindra to Rohit, out Stumped!! .. and the pressure gets to Rohit. Glum faces in the Indian camp now - a pre-meditated charge, Ravindra saw it coming, dragged the length back and got the ball to rip across the right-hander, stranded in no man's land, Rohit threw himself into a wild slog, missed it completely and Latham does the rest.
Ravindra to Rohit, no run, a pre-meditated sweep, was a low full-toss and Rohit was early into the shot, toe-ends it to mid-wicket
Michael Bracewell to Shreyas Iyer, 1 run, a stutter from Shreyas Iyer, but Rohit was always charging across and the throw was aty his end, makes it comfortably, Shreyas Iyer called for the run after dropping it in front of point
Michael Bracewell to Kohli, out Lbw!! Kohli has ben given OUT LBW, he has a chat with his skipper and opts to review. This looks pretty straightforward though, did he get an inside edge? Was looking to work it onto the on-side and was struck in front of middle and leg, nervous faces in the crowd as they await the UltraEdge. It's taking time to load and it returns a flat line. Onto ball-tracking: It's three reds, hitting middle and leg, Kohli is OUT.
antner to Shubman Gill, out Caught by Phillips!! New Zealand needed something special, it's that man GP who has conjured up a flying catch from nowhere, no wonder, he's chuffed to bits. If that Kohli catch was froma nother world, he has beaten that tonight with a flying effort. A stubnned looking Shubman Gill has to go back to the pavilion. Acrobatics at its level best from GP - was a well flighted delivery on off and Gill drilled the drive towards cover, it was speeding away until he intervened, dived to his right, the ball was still clearing him, so he leaps across, goes one-handed and plucks a blinder. Will this get New Zealand going?
Santner to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, dropped short by Santner, a half-arm jab past square leg for a couple of runs
Santner to Shubman Gill, 1 run, to mid-on, the partnership between Shubman Gill and Rohit is now
Ravindra to Shubman Gill, SIX, lovely shot! Gill has a big smile as he walks up to Rohit.
Santner to Rohit, 1 run, fifty for Rohit. First of the tournament and what a match to get it in. He's reached there in just 41 balls; raises his bat and acknowledges the applause
Nathan Smith to Rohit, SIX, chants of "Rohit, Rohit, Rohit" around the ground before this ball and he makes them go berserk with this shot. Not really a bad delivery - good length ball outside off, there was width on offer and Rohit decided to go down town, not quite off the middle but it doesn't have to be when Rohit is hitting them, just clears long-off
Jamieson to Shubman Gill, 1 run, dropped! Tough but you expect Kiwis to take that. Gill shimmies down and looks to go down the ground, but the bat turns on impact and he ends up dragging it towards mid-wicket.
Nathan Smith to Rohit, SIX, couple of sighters and off goes Rohit. He charges down and gets under this back of a length delivery, swings through the line and gets a good connection,
Rohit and Gill seems to start greatly with the new ball.
William ORourke to Shubman Gill, 2 runs, charges down and is met by a 143.5ks short of length delivery, pulls it behind square and it needed a diving stop from Ravindra to save the boundary, he keeps it to a brace
The two new ball bowlers for New Zealand are quite tall so they will extract some extra bounce from the surface. We have already seen Jamieson get that and if the ball stops from that length then it won't be easy
Shami to Michael Bracewell, 2 runs, very full outside off, Michael Bracewell squeezes it out towards extra cover, they hustle for two, Axar charges in and fails to pick it up cleanly so they make it through
Target for India- 252
Hardik Pandya to Santner, out Santner Run Out!! 1 run completed. Bullet-throw from Virat Kohli in the deep to find Santner short of his ground! Slower short ball just outside off Santner run out
Shami to Michael Bracewell, FOUR, clever thinking and executed well enough! Low full-toss on off-stump, Michael Bracewell moved across his stumps quite early and just lapped it fine, got just enough for it to go past his leg-stump
Kuldeep Yadav to Michael Bracewell, FOUR, a boundary after 65-balls! He's finally found a gap, full on off-stump, Michael Bracewell leans right in and sweeps it hard, doesn't bother keeping it down as he puts it into the gap at deep square leg
Varun Chakaravarthy to Mitchell, 1 run, 50 for Mitchell. He has hung in there. Full outside off, Mitchell gets forward to drive to long-off. Now needs to be there till the end for New Zealand
Varun Chakaravarthy to Phillips, out Bowled!! Yet another big wicket just when New Zealand were looking to up the ante. The googly aned Phillips is beaten all ends up, nicely bowled too, this is slowed down and given a lot of air, tossed up outside off, turns back in and beats the big cut of Phillips. The ball sneaks through the big gap between bat and pad.
Jadeja to Phillips, FOUR, to backward square leg
Kuldeep Yadav to Phillips, FOUR, to sweeper cover
Kuldeep Yadav to Phillips, SIX, straight down the ground. Welcome maximum by Glenn Phillips.
Jadeja to Latham, out Lbw!! In the league game Jadeja got Latham out LBW, that time it was the reverse-sweep now the sweep. A review lost too. Latham lbw b Jadeja 14(30)
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Actress-model Shefali Jariwala's body brought to her residence in Mumbai.
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