India Beats New Zealand by 4 Wickets to Win ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Dubai, 9th March 2025: After a successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign last year, the Indian cricket team disappointed fans with an early exit from the ICC World Test Championship. However, the Blues, known for their resilience, staged a remarkable comeback, defeating New Zealand by four wickets to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

This victory marked India’s 8th ICC trophy, 5th ICC One-Day title, and 3rd ICC Champions Trophy win. Led by a captain’s innings from Rohit Sharma and crucial contributions from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy, India overpowered the Kiwis in the final at Dubai International Stadium, UAE.

After a humbling defeat in the 2017 edition of the tournament, India made a triumphant comeback, winning the trophy in the very country that had crushed their dreams years ago—bringing joy to over a billion fans worldwide.

Sharma Loses 15th Consecutive Toss

In the big match in Dubai, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to bat first on a dry, used pitch. Experts Rameez Raja and Aaron Finch explained that batting first was a good choice because the pitch would slow down later, making it easier for bowlers who take the pace off the ball. “Most finals are won in the mind,” Finch added, emphasizing that mental strength and composure under pressure are key to victory.

Acknowledging India’s strong record, Santner remained confident, stating, “We saw how India played and what they got out of it. We hope it slows down a bit later.” New Zealand replaced the injured Matt Henry with Nathan Smith. Rohit Sharma’s bad luck with the toss continued, as he suffered his 15th consecutive loss. However, he downplayed the impact of the toss, saying, “At the end of the day, what matters is how well you play.” The Blues stuck to their winning formula, with Rohit announcing an unchanged lineup for the final.

Kiwis Post 251 as Batsmen Fail to Capitalize on Strong Start

New Zealand started strongly, with Rachin Ravindra looking in good rhythm. He was timing the ball well, and India had multiple chances to dismiss him but failed. Rohit seemed passive as runs flowed, focusing more on damage control than taking wickets. He introduced spin early, a move that paid off as Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Will Young for 15.

New Zealand finished the powerplay at 69/1, looking strong. However, as soon as the fielding restrictions were lifted, Kuldeep Yadav deceived Ravindra, bowling him out when he was well-settled on 37. After the powerplay, India’s spinners took control, and Kane Williamson followed Ravindra, managing only 11 runs before falling to a soft dismissal off Kuldeep.

New Zealand attempted to gain momentum with Latham and Mitchell taking things slow. India’s spinners were in full control. Jadeja got Latham out when he was on 14, and again, New Zealand’s momentum was halted. Mitchell and Phillips, in an attempt to take New Zealand to a defendable total, started playing cautiously. Both became well-settled. However, Glenn Phillips was sent back to the pavilion by Chakravarthy when he bowled him out for 34 runs. Mitchell continued his composed innings in an anchor role and scored a half-century in 90 balls. However, Mitchell couldn’t complete his slow buildup into an explosive finish as Shami dismissed him for 63 runs.

Michael Bracewell, however, accelerated and remained not out, scoring 53 runs in 40 balls. He was supported by a small cameo from skipper Santner, which helped the half-centurion Bracewell take the Kiwis up to 251 runs in 50 overs, losing seven wickets. Just like throughout the tournament, India’s spinners shone, with Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep dismissing crucial batters, including Williamson and Ravindra, while being economical. Jadeja supported them with his economical bowling as well. Pandya and Shami failed to make an impact, as both had high economies, although Shami managed to get a wicket.

Start Well, End Well: All’s Well for India

Chasing a target of 251, a competitive total on this wicket, India started strongly. Rohit Sharma led the chase in his signature attacking style, with Shubman Gill providing solid support early on. Like New Zealand, India aimed for an aggressive powerplay and succeeded, reaching 64 runs without losing a wicket. The “Hitman” brought up his half-century in just 41 balls.

New Zealand introduced spin early, with captain Mitchell Santner leading the attack. However, India remained dominant, handling the bowling with ease. Gill, too, shifted gears post-powerplay, attacking with confidence. But Glenn Phillips produced a stunning catch at covers to dismiss Gill for 31 off Santner’s bowling.

India then suffered a setback as star batsman Virat Kohli was trapped lbw by Michael Bracewell for just 1 run. With two quick wickets, New Zealand tightened their grip. Rohit, attempting to break free, fell short of a well-deserved century, missing a delivery and getting dismissed for 76 by Rachin Ravindra.

Shreyas Iyer, India’s top scorer in the tournament, and Axar Patel steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Iyer got a lifeline when Kyle Jamieson dropped him on 44, but he couldn’t capitalize and fell for 48 soon after.

Axar and KL Rahul then took charge, keeping India in control of the required run rate. Just as India seemed to be regaining momentum, Bracewell struck again, dismissing Axar for 29 and setting up a tense finish. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya guided India to a dominant position before Jamieson dismissed Pandya for 18, with just 11 runs needed. Rahul’s composed 34, along with a brief cameo from Ravindra Jadeja, helped India chase down the target with an over to spare, securing a four-wicket victory.

For New Zealand, pacers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith proved ineffective and expensive, while Jamieson managed a solitary wicket. Captain Santner and Bracewell took two wickets each, with Ravindra chipping in with one. Although the Kiwi bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals, they failed to seize control when the opportunity arose. India’s batsmen showcased maturity, playing out the spinners effectively to seal the win.

The Biggest Cricket Tournament of the Year Concludes!

The biggest cricket tournament of the year concluded with the world’s most cricket-loving nation emerging victorious, bringing joy to countless fans across the globe. India, led by Rohit Sharma and backed by strong performances from Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Varun Chakravarthy, and others, silenced their critics after their recent failures in the ICC World Test Championship.

For the Kiwis, it was yet another heartbreak in an ICC limited-overs tournament. However, all players expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by the ICC and congratulated the hosts for organizing a fantastic tournament.

With this victory, India not only secured another ICC trophy but also reaffirmed its dominance in world cricket. The triumph was a testament to their resilience, silencing critics and proving that setbacks are merely stepping stones to success. As the celebrations begin, over a billion fans rejoice in yet another historic moment for Indian cricket.