India etched their name in cricket history on March 9, 2025, clinching their third ICC Champions Trophy with a nail-biting four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai.
The India vs NZ Champions Trophy final saw the Men in Blue, unbeaten across four Dubai matches, chase down 252 with six balls left, surpassing Australia’s two titles (2006, 2009) and adding to India’s 2002 and 2013 wins in the Pakistan-hosted event’s UAE leg.
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, 2025India’s Chase Unfolds
Chasing 252, India roared out with a 105-run opening stand, led by captain Rohit Sharma’s blazing 76 (83 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and Shubman Gill’s steady 31 (50 balls, 1 six). Mitchell Santner broke through, with Glenn Phillips snagging Gill. Virat Kohli (1) and Sharma fell quickly to Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra, but Axar Patel (29) and Shreyas Iyer (48, 2 fours, 2 sixes) steadied the ship with a 61-run stand. Hardik Pandya (part of a 38-run burst) exited late, yet KL Rahul’s cool 34* (33 balls) sealed the India vs NZ Champions Trophy glory.
India No.1 in T20Is ✅✅
India No.1 in ODIs ✅✅#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/6Vb53F9IkE
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2025NZ’s Fight and Fall
New Zealand, opting to bat after Santner’s toss win, posted 251/7, sparked by Will Young (15) and Ravindra’s brisk 37 (29 balls, 4 fours, 1 six). Kuldeep Yadav’s double strike—Ravindra and Kane Williamson (11)—tilted the game, but Daryl Mitchell’s 63 (101 balls, 3 fours) and Bracewell’s unbeaten 53 (40 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) fought back. India’s spinners Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy (2 wickets each), and Ravindra Jadeja (1) kept the lid on.
Captain @ImRo45 leading from the front!
He is adjudged Player of the Match for his match winning knock of 76 runs as #TeamIndia win the Champions Trophy 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/QCICyAfkIs
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2025Did Santner’s decision cost New Zealand the Champions Trophy title against India? India won the Champions Trophy for the third time in an electrifying 4-wicket match.
