Recent Posts
Skipper Rohit Sharma led by example with a brilliant half-century as a determined India held their nerve to secure an unprecedented third Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final on Sunday.
Bowling first after Rohit endured his 12th consecutive toss loss, India’s spinners put on a masterclass, restricting New Zealand to 251/7 in 50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/45) were instrumental in applying the brakes on the Kiwi batting lineup.
Chasing 252, India got over the line with six balls to spare, thanks to key contributions from Rohit (76 off 83) and Shreyas Iyer (48 off 62).
For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101), Michael Bracewell (53* off 40), and Rachin Ravindra (37 off 29) were the standout performers with the bat.
India faced a few tense moments in the chase, especially after being comfortably placed at 183/3 in the 38th over. However, KL Rahul (34* off 33) displayed remarkable composure to guide the team home, supported by a quickfire 18 from Hardik Pandya.
With this victory, India completed a flawless campaign, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament—a testament to their dominance.
Having previously won the Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013, India now stand alone as the only team to lift the prestigious title three times. (Times of India)
