In a commanding display of skill and teamwork, captain Rohit Sharma steered India to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final. This win capped off an unbeaten tournament for India at the Dubai International Stadium, earning them the title of ‘invincibles’. For Rohit Sharma, this triumph was particularly significant, silencing critics who had questioned his fitness and leadership.
Despite not being at the crease to finish the game, Rohit Sharma’s crucial knock of 76 runs stabilized India’s innings after a mini-recovery from New Zealand.
The victory was a testament to the team’s all-round performance. India’s batting lineup found peak form at the crucial moment, while their bowling attack, especially the spin bowlers, proved incredibly difficult for opponents.
This Champions Trophy success is timely for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both experienced players had faced scrutiny following their batting performances in the previous Test series against Australia.
Virat Kohli continued his trend of performing strongly in major ICC events, while Rohit Sharma celebrated a personal milestone by scoring his first half-century in an ICC final as captain.
Shreyas Iyer’s contribution in the middle order was also a key factor in India’s success. His performance was a form of redemption after a prior misunderstanding led to his exclusion from the central contracts list.
Shubman Gill further solidified his position as a future leader within the team. It seems inevitable that the young player will soon take on leadership responsibilities, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
Hardik Pandya once again proved his indispensable value to the team. His vital innings in the semi-final and impactful hits in the final were instrumental in securing victory. His bowling ability remains unquestionable.
Varun Chakravarthy’s inclusion in the team was a masterstroke, particularly effective on Dubai’s slower pitches. Mohammed Shami displayed moments of brilliance, and Kuldeep Yadav delivered in the final, taking the important wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
KL Rahul justified the team management’s faith in him with crucial runs in both the semi-final and final, reinforcing his reputation as a highly-rated player.
This Champions Trophy final marked India’s third consecutive appearance in the tournament final, following appearances in 2013 and 2017. Their journey to victory was nearly flawless, with the exception of a defeat to Pakistan in the 2017 final.
This recent success in the 50-over format provides a welcome change after previous disappointments, including the 2017 Champions Trophy final, the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand, and the painful 2013 ODI World Cup final defeat against Australia on home ground.
While the loss to Australia in Ahmedabad still lingers in the memories of fans, it served as a catalyst for Rohit Sharma and his team to improve and evolve.
The T20 World Cup victory in Barbados last year was a significant step forward for the team, cementing Rohit Sharma’s reputation as a shrewd and effective cricket captain.
Having now achieved success in Dubai, the potential of this Indian team in white-ball cricket appears limitless.
