Rohit & Rahul Lead the Chase as India Clinch Champions Trophy 2025 Title with a Dominant Performance
Toss, Venue, and Playing XI
The grand finale of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was held in Dubai, where New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first.
Playing XI:
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
1st Innings – New Zealand Batting
New Zealand openers started confidently, with Rachin Ravindra looking in great touch. He and Will Young built a solid 57-run partnership, playing smart cricket by finding gaps and punishing loose balls. However, Varun Chakravarthy provided India with the breakthrough as Young (15) was trapped LBW with a brilliant in-swinging delivery.
After Young’s dismissal, Kane Williamson joined Ravindra at the crease. Unfortunately, Ravindra couldn’t capitalize on his start and was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav after scoring a valuable 37 runs. Soon after, Williamson also fell for just 11 runs, giving Kuldeep his second wicket. New Zealand, from a steady 69/1, suddenly found themselves struggling at 75/3.
Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell tried to stabilize the innings but couldn’t build a big partnership. Their 33-run stand ended when Latham (14) fell to Jadeja. Indian spinners maintained pressure with tight bowling, restricting the flow of runs. Mitchell played cautiously, while Glenn Phillips kept the scoreboard ticking with boundaries. Their 57-run partnership looked promising until Phillips (34) was dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy.
Michael Bracewell and Mitchell added a crucial 46-run stand, pushing New Zealand’s total past 200. Mitchell played a slow but vital knock of 63 before getting dismissed by Shami. Bracewell, on the other hand, played aggressively and remained unbeaten on 53, ensuring New Zealand reached a competitive 251/7 in 50 overs.
Key Performers (New Zealand Batting):
- Daryl Mitchell: 63 runs (101 balls)
- Michael Bracewell: 53* runs (40 balls)
- Glenn Phillips: 34 runs (52 balls)
Indian Bowling Highlights:
- Kuldeep Yadav: 2/40 (10 overs)
- Varun Chakravarthy: 2/45 (10 overs)
- Ravindra Jadeja: 1/30 (10 overs)
2nd Innings – India’s Chase
India, chasing 252, got off to a dream start as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill dominated the New Zealand bowlers. Rohit played attacking cricket, while Gill ensured stability. Their partnership of 105 runs put India in a commanding position.
Mitchell Santner finally broke the stand by dismissing Gill (31). Soon after, Virat Kohli fell for just 1 run to Bracewell, and India suddenly found themselves at 122/3 when Rohit Sharma (76) was also dismissed by Rachin Ravindra.
With three quick wickets, New Zealand made a comeback and slowed India’s scoring rate. However, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer handled the pressure well, adding a steady 61-run partnership through singles and doubles. Iyer looked solid but was dismissed for 48, leaving India at 183/4.
KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya then took charge, playing sensibly to bring India closer to victory. Their 38-run partnership kept India on track before Pandya (18) was dismissed by Jamieson at 241/6. With just 11 runs needed, Rahul (34*) and Jadeja finished the chase in 49 overs, sealing India’s victory by 4 wickets.
Key Performers (India Batting):
- Rohit Sharma: 76 runs (83 balls)
- Shreyas Iyer: 48 runs (62 balls)
- KL Rahul: 34* runs (33 balls)
New Zealand Bowling Highlights:
- Mitchell Santner: 2/46 (10 overs)
- Michael Bracewell: 2/28 (10 overs)
- Rachin Ravindra: 1/47 (10 overs)
Match Summary
- New Zealand: 251/7 (50 overs)
- India: 254/6 (49 overs)
- India won by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining).
Player of the Match & Player of the Series
Rohit Sharma was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant 76-run innings, playing a crucial role in India’s chase.
Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Series, scoring 263 runs and taking 3 wickets throughout the tournament. His all-round performance stood out despite New Zealand’s defeat.
Scorecard
New Zealand Batting
| Batsman | Runs |
|---|---|
| Will Young | 15(23) |
| Rachin Ravindra | 37(29) |
| Kane Williamson | 11(14) |
| Daryl Mitchell | 63(101) |
| Tom Latham | 14(30) |
| Glenn Phillips | 34(52) |
| Michael Bracewell | 53*(40) |
| Mitchell Santner(c) | 8(10) |
| Nathan Smith | 0*(1) |
| Extras | 16(lb3, wd13) |
| Total | 251/7 (50 overs) |
India Bowling
| Bowler | O-R-W-E |
|---|---|
| Mohmmad Shami | 9-74-1-8.22 |
| Hardik Pandya | 3-30-0-10.00 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 10-45-2-4.50 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10-40-2-4.00 |
| Axar Patel | 8-29-0-3.62 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 10-30-1-3.00 |
India Batting
| Batsman | Runs |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma(c) | 76(83) |
| Shubman Gill | 31(50) |
| Virat Kohli | 1(2) |
| Sheryas Iyer | 48(62) |
| Axar Patel | 29(40) |
| Kl Rahul | 34*(33) |
| Hardik Pandya | 18(18) |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 9*(6) |
| Extras | 8(wd8) |
| Total | 254/6 (49 Overs) |
New Zealand Bowler
| Bowler | O-R-W-E |
|---|---|
| Kyle Jamieson | 5-24-1-4.80 |
| Will O’Rourke | 7-56-0-8.00 |
| Nathan Smith | 2-22-0-11.00 |
| Mitchell Santner(c) | 10-46-2-4.60 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 10-47-1-4.70 |
| Michael Bracewell | 10-2-28-2.80 |
| Glenn Phillips | 5-31-0-6.20 |
The final was a thrilling contest between two top teams. New Zealand started well but lost momentum in the middle overs due to India’s disciplined spin attack. Despite Bracewell’s late surge, they could only set a target of 252.
India, on the other hand, showcased aggressive batting, especially in the powerplay. Although they lost wickets in the middle, their depth in batting ensured a comfortable victory. Throughout the tournament, India remained undefeated, proving their dominance and securing the Champions Trophy 2025 title in style.
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