On March 9, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India etched their name into the annals of cricketing history by clinching their third ICC Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final. This victory not only marked India as the most successful team in the tournament’s history but also showcased their resurgence as a dominant force in limited-overs cricket. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India chased down a target of 252 runs with an over to spare, ending a 12-year drought for an ICC ODI title since their last triumph in 2013. The win was a testament to India’s depth, resilience, and ability to perform under pressure, cementing their legacy as a cricketing superpower.
The Road to the Final
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the ninth edition of the quadrennial ODI tournament, was co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9. Eight teams—India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, England, and debutants Afghanistan—competed across four venues: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai. The tournament adopted a hybrid model due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan amid political tensions, with all of India’s matches, including the semi-final and final (if they qualified), scheduled in Dubai.
India, placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, emerged as the only unbeaten team in the group stage. Their campaign began with a convincing six-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. In that match, Virat Kohli’s masterful century in a chase of 280 silenced doubters about his form, while spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy stifled Pakistan’s batting. The group stage concluded with a victory over New Zealand on March 2, where Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul earned him Player of the Match honors, securing India’s top spot in the group.
In the first semi-final on March 4, India faced Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup champions. Australia posted 264, with Steve Smith scoring 73 before Mohammed Shami’s incisive spell triggered a late collapse. Chasing, Kohli’s 84 laid the foundation, and late heroics from KL Rahul (42* off 34) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24) sealed a four-wicket win with 11 balls remaining. Meanwhile, New Zealand booked their place in the final by defeating South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore, setting up a rematch of their earlier group-stage encounter with India.
The Final: Setting the Stage
The final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium was steeped in narrative richness. New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner in place of the injured Kane Williamson, sought to repeat their 2000 ICC KnockOut triumph over India—their only limited-overs ICC title. India, meanwhile, aimed to avenge that defeat and extend their recent success following the 2024 T20 World Cup win. The stakes were high: a victory would make India the first team to win the Champions Trophy undefeated and elevate Rohit Sharma alongside MS Dhoni as the only Indian captains with multiple ICC titles.
The Dubai pitch, known for its slow, dry nature with assistance for spinners, promised a tactical battle. Weather forecasts predicted clear skies, minimizing the risk of interruptions, though a reserve day was in place. New Zealand’s probable XI included Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith (replacing the doubtful Matt Henry), and William O’Rourke. India fielded Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand’s Innings: A Competitive Total
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, a decision Santner justified by citing the potential for the pitch to slow down later. Openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra started cautiously against Shami and Pandya. The breakthrough came in the eighth over when Chakravarthy trapped Young LBW for 27, ending a 57-run stand. Ravindra, fresh off a tournament-leading run tally, faced Kuldeep Yadav’s googly in the next over and was bowled for 33, leaving New Zealand at 69/2.
Daryl Mitchell joined Conway, and the pair steadied the innings with a 60-run partnership. However, Kuldeep struck again, dismissing Conway (caught and bowled) for 41, reducing New Zealand to 75/3. Mitchell (58) and Latham (36) rebuilt with a mix of caution and aggression, targeting Pandya and Jadeja. The spinners, however, tightened the screws in the middle overs, with Chakravarthy removing Latham and Jadeja accounting for Phillips (12).
At 180/5 after 40 overs, New Zealand needed a late surge. Santner (29) and Bracewell (18) provided impetus, but Shami’s return in the death overs proved decisive. He dismissed Santner and Jamieson in quick succession, finishing with 3/48. New Zealand ended at 251/7 in 50 overs, a competitive total on a sluggish surface but one India’s batting depth could chase. Ravindra Jadeja (2/43), Kuldeep (2/39), and Chakravarthy (1/45) were the standout bowlers, their control stifling New Zealand’s ambitions of a 270-plus score.
India’s Chase: Drama and Resilience
Chasing 252, India opened with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill against O’Rourke and Jamieson. Rohit, under scrutiny for not converting starts, unleashed an aggressive 76 off 83 balls, including 10 fours and a six. Gill (25) supported him until Jamieson dismissed him in the 12th over, caught behind, at 67/1. Kohli joined Rohit, and the duo added 89 runs, with Kohli playing the anchor role at 43* when drama struck.
In the 27th over, Rohit, attempting to loft Rachin Ravindra, was stumped by Latham, silencing the capacity crowd. His head hung low as he trudged off, leaving India at 156/2. Shreyas Iyer (23) and Kohli steadied the ship, but Santner’s spin twin struck, dismissing Iyer and Pant (8) in quick succession, reducing India to 189/4. With 63 runs needed off 72 balls, tension mounted.
KL Rahul, ice-cool under pressure, partnered Kohli, who fell for 54 to Bracewell, caught at long-on, with India at 225/5. Hardik Pandya’s arrival injected momentum; his 28 off 24, including two sixes, brought the target within reach. When Pandya fell in the 49th over to O’Rourke, India needed just 3 runs. Rahul (42* off 34) and Jadeja (2* off 1) finished the job, with Jadeja’s winning runs sparking wild celebrations as India reached 254/6 in 49 overs.
Key Performers and Turning Points
Rohit’s blazing start set the tone, while Kohli’s 54 ensured stability. Rahul’s composure and Pandya’s power were decisive in the clutch. For New Zealand, Santner’s 2/43 and Ravindra’s spin kept them in the game, but their batting lacked the firepower to post a daunting total. Kuldeep’s double strike in the first innings shifted momentum, earning him Player of the Match, while Chakravarthy’s tournament haul of 15 wickets secured him the Player of the Tournament award.
The turning point was Rohit’s dismissal, which tested India’s depth. However, their middle order’s resilience—a hallmark of this campaign—saw them through. New Zealand’s inability to capitalize on their middle overs dominance was their undoing, as India’s bowlers restricted them to a chaseable score.
Historical Significance
This victory marked India’s seventh ICC title (two ODI World Cups, two T20 World Cups, three Champions Trophies), placing them one behind Australia’s 10. It broke their tie with Australia for most Champions Trophy wins (two each prior to 2025) and made them the first team to win the tournament undefeated. Rohit became the only Indian captain after Dhoni to win multiple ICC trophies, while he and Kohli joined an elite group as the only Indians with four ICC titles (Kohli: 2011 ODI WC, 2013 CT, 2024 T20 WC, 2025 CT; Rohit: 2007 T20 WC, 2013 CT, 2024 T20 WC, 2025 CT).
The win ended a 12-year ODI title drought since 2013, following an 11-year trophyless run broken by the 2024 T20 World Cup. It also avenged the 2000 final loss to New Zealand, completing a redemption arc. For New Zealand, it was a third Champions Trophy final defeat (2000, 2009, 2025), underscoring their struggle to convert knockout appearances into titles beyond 2000.
Celebrations and Reactions
As fireworks lit up Dubai, players draped in the tricolor danced to “Lehra Do” and “Chak De India.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it an “exceptional result,” while coach Gautam Gambhir, known for his stoic demeanor, joined the celebrations. Kohli, amid retirement speculation, called it a “team triumph,” sidestepping personal milestones. Rohit dedicated the win to the fans, saying, “This is for the millions who believed in us.”
Legacy and Beyond
The 2025 Champions Trophy triumph reaffirmed India’s dominance across formats, silencing critics who questioned their knockout pedigree post-2013. It highlighted the emergence of talents like Chakravarthy and Rahul’s evolution into a clutch performer, alongside the enduring brilliance of Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja. For New Zealand, the loss was a bitter pill, but their campaign showcased young stars like Ravindra and O’Rourke, promising a bright future.
As the cricketing world looks to the 2029 Champions Trophy in India, this victory will be remembered as a defining moment—a blend of experience, youth, and unyielding spirit that crowned India champions once more.
