IND vs NZ ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final Highlights: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul Power India To 3rd CT Crown

India have done it! Rohit Sharma led Team India defeated New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by 4 wickets to take the trophy home. In a thrilling encounter India barely survived as Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul navigated a nervy finish to fire their team to the title.

Heading into the tournament a lot of noise surrounded the Indian Cricket Team after BCCI’s decision to not travel to the host nation of Pakistan and playing their matches in Dubai in a hybrid format. 
 

But Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir led Men in Blue managed to silence the outside noise and went unbeaten in the entire tournament to win their third Champions Trophy crown. With this victory Rohit Sharma has now won two ICC trophies as captain.

India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Man Of the Match
 

Rohit Sharma was named Player of the Match after scoring 76 runs off 83 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 91.57 in the IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 final. His restrained innings played a key role in India's victory, showcasing his experience in high-pressure games. 
 

After the match, Rohit expressed his happiness and credited Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir for supporting his aggressive approach. He stressed the importance of clarity in mindset and batting depth, highlighting Ravindra Jadeja's role at No. 8, which allowed him to play with freedom. His ability to adapt, use his feet effectively, and trust his instincts proved to be crucial in India's victory.

India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Top Performers
 

Rohit Sharma - 76 (83)

The Indian skipper led from the front and played with anger as he raced to his 50 inside just 41 balls. His aggression at the top of the order set the platform for India to chase down the target. Rohit's rapid fire knock of 76 at the top of the order meant New Zealand has a mountain to climb and despite the match coming close India ended up as winners with 6 balls to spare. 
 

Kuldeep Yadav - 2/40
 

The Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav spun a web on the Kiwis as he dismissed both Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson to drag India back into the contest. With astonishing figures of 2/40 in 10 overs, Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers in the Champions Trophy Final. 

Varun Chakravarthy - 2/45
 

Just like the group match, Varun Chakravarthy wreacked havoc upon the New Zealand batters. When it looked like the Kiwis might cruise to 300, Varun came in and dismissed opener Will Young. His figures of 2/45 in 10 overs set the match up for India. 
 

Daryl Mitchell - 63(101)
 

While, Daryl Mitchell played with a quite strike rate of around 62, his knock of 63 helped New Zealand propel to a par score of 250 runs. Given India's spin twins in Kuldeep & Chakravarthy were wreaking havoc, without hai knock, NZ could've crumbled far below a par score. 
 

Michael Bracewell - 53*(40)
 

Bracewell provided a power packed finish to the New Zealand innings by scoring an unbeaten 53 with a strike rate of 132.5. His final flourish was crucial to keep New Zealand alive in the contest.

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final – 1st Innings Summary

The match started in out in worst possible way for India with captain Rohit Sharma once again losing the toss and New Zealand opting to bat first. With this Rohit Sharma has now lost 12 consecutive tosses as an ODI captain. Given the tricky conditions at Dubai International Stadium throughout the tournament there was hope that if India carve out early wickets then they will have the upper hand in the game. However, New Zealand openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra started with a dominant 50 run partnership to put India onto the backfoot. 
 

However in the 8th over of the innings, India's anguish came to an end after Varun Chakravarthy trapped Will Young LBW with a straighter delivery. The Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav pulled the game back for India further more as he dismissed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson inside the same over to put the pressure back on New Zealand. 
 

The New Zealand innings derailed from that point on and just when it looked like they were building it back again, Jadeja got the crucial wicket of Tom Latham to leave New Zealand scampering at 108/4. It looked bleak for the Kiwis but a measured knock by Daryl Mitchell backed by Michael Bracewell got New Zealand to a respectable total of 251/7 at the end of 50 overs. Setting a target of 252 for the men in blue to chase.

Chasing 252 has proved tricky on the Dubai International Stadium but Indian skipper Rohit Sharma came in with intent and put the blackcaps under the pump from the very first over. Rohit and Gill combined for a 100-run opening stand and were controlling India's innings. 
 

However, Glenn Phillips took a ridiculous catch to send Shubman Gill packing and Virat Kohli's wicket in the very next over put India under pressure once again. Rohit Sharma departed for 76 and India were under complete disarray. 

A solid partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel was pegging India back when Rachin Ravindra dismissed Iyer for 48 runs to add another twist to the game. With 49 runs needed off 52 balls, Axar Patel played a rash shot and India were 5 down. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul calmed the storm before Pandya departed with 11 needed of 15 balls. However, Ravindra Jadeja did not let pressure get the better of the side and India registered a famous win.