IND vs NZ: India Clinches 3rd ICC Champions Trophy Title with Thrilling Victory Over New Zealand
IND vs NZ ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India Clinches 3rd Title
In a thrilling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to win their third ICC Champions Trophy. India maintained their undefeated record in yet another ICC competition, demonstrating their supremacy in world cricket thanks to Rohit Sharma’s powerful knock and a strong showing from the spinners.
Match Summary: India vs. New Zealand – ICC Champions Trophy Final 2025
New Zealand: 251/7 (50 overs)
- Top Performers: Daryl Mitchell (63), Michael Bracewell (53)
- Best Indian Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav (2/40), Varun Chakravarthy (2/45)
India: 254/6 (49 overs)
- Top Performers: Rohit Sharma (76), Shreyas Iyer (48), KL Rahul (34*)
- Best New Zealand Bowlers: Michael Bracewell (2/28)
India’s tactical skill surpasses the tenacity of New Zealand
India’s greater depth and quality ultimately proved too powerful, despite New Zealand’s heroic efforts. Even though they lost the toss, marking their 15th straight defeat in the ODI toss, India skillfully adjusted to the circumstances and carried out their strategy flawlessly.
With a strong start, the Kiwis sped to 69/1 in the powerplay. But over time, India’s spin attack gained ground. The spin combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel bowled 38 overs, giving up just 144 runs and taking five vital wickets on a surface with little turn.
New Zealand managed a good score of 251/7 thanks to Michael Bracewell’s late flourish (53 off 40 balls), but it was never enough against India’s strong batting order.
India’s depth shines in the chase thanks to Rohit Sharma’s masterclass
With a smooth 105-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, India got their chase off to a great start. The tone was set by Rohit’s blazing 76, and Gill added a solid 44 before being dismissed by Glenn Phillips’ outstanding catch.
As New Zealand’s spinners tightened their hold, India lost Rohit and Kohli (1) in rapid succession due to an unexpected middle-order wobble. But with a vital 61-run partnership, Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (26) steadied the innings.
KL Rahul (34*) and Ravindra Jadeja (19*) remained composed to get India across the finish line with an over remaining as the equation shrank to 67 runs off 68 balls.
Bowling Mastery: India’s Spinners Take Over Once More
Even though the surface didn’t have much turn, India’s spinners showed remarkable accuracy and control.
- Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession, tilting the game in India’s favor.
- Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with key wickets, including the dangerous Glenn Phillips.
- Jadeja’s economy (10-0-30-1) kept the pressure on New Zealand throughout the innings.
New Zealand’s inability to accelerate in the middle overs meant they could only manage a below-par total, despite a late fightback from Bracewell and Mitchell.
An Event India Will Never Forget
India’s supremacy in ICC competitions is further cemented by this triumph. They have won 22 of the 23 completed matches in the last three international tournaments, which is an incredible record that demonstrates their dependability and capacity to win games under duress.
India has now won the ICC event twice in a row, solidifying their standing as one of the world’s most well-rounded cricketing sides.
India’s Unbeaten ICC Run: Rohit Sharma Hails ‘Great, Great Milestone’
India’s Dominance in ICC Tournaments Continues
India has been on an incredible run in ICC tournaments, winning 23 out of their last 24 completed matches across three major events. With their recent Champions Trophy 2025 victory, the Indian cricket team has once again stamped its authority on the world stage.
Led by Rohit Sharma, India has displayed remarkable consistency, resilience, and dominance in both ODI and T20 formats. Their back-to-back title wins highlight a level of excellence that only a few teams in cricket history have achieved.
Rohit Sharma on India’s Unstoppable Streak
Speaking after India’s third Champions Trophy title, Rohit Sharma expressed his pride in the team’s performance.
“That’s a great, great milestone to have, honestly speaking. It speaks to the kind of team this is. I know we didn’t win the ODI World Cup final, but then we went to the T20 World Cup and didn’t lose a single game. Now, we’ve won the Champions Trophy as well.”
Rohit emphasized that India’s depth, teamwork, and ability to handle pressure have been key to their success.
“A lot of depth, a lot of understanding within the group, and a lot of excitement. That is how we want to play our cricket. There’s always pressure from outside, but we’ve learned to focus on winning games and enjoying the sport.”
India’s Impeccable Record in ICC Events
In the past two years (2024–2025), India has been unbeatable, securing 13 wins out of 13 matches across different conditions. This streak is reminiscent of MS Dhoni’s era, when India won three ICC trophies (2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy). However, even Dhoni’s squad never won two consecutive ICC tournaments without a single loss.
Rohit reflected on this unique achievement, saying:
“Very few teams have won two ICC tournaments undefeated. We lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final despite playing excellent cricket, but we didn’t give up. We went with the same intent in the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Staying in the game till the end is what we believe in.”
A True Team Effort: India’s Balanced XI
One of the biggest factors behind India’s success has been their well-rounded squad, featuring impactful all-rounders, reliable batsmen, and match-winning bowlers.
“If you look at players from No. 1 to 11, everyone has contributed. Whether it was with the bat or the ball, every player had an impact in the tournament. It was not about one star player carrying the team. We knew the conditions were challenging, so collective performances were crucial.”
Rohit also credited the hunger and passion of the squad, stating that these qualities are natural to many players in the team.
Virat Kohli: “India is Ready to Take on the World for the Next 8 Years”
Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest match-winners, believes the future of Indian cricket is secure, with a new generation of players ready to dominate world cricket.
“When you leave, you want to leave the team in a better place. I feel we have a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next eight years. Shubman [Gill] has been outstanding, Shreyas [Iyer] brilliant, KL [Rahul] has finished games, and Hardik [Pandya] has been superb with the bat.”
Kohli also acknowledged that the Champions Trophy victory helped India bounce back from their disappointing Test series loss in Australia.
“We wanted to win a big tournament after that tough Australian tour, and we did exactly that.”
Kohli’s Praise for New Zealand
Kohli took a moment to appreciate New Zealand’s competitive spirit, highlighting their exceptional fielding and tactical discipline.
“Every time we played against them in big games, we knew they would come with a set plan. No team in world cricket executes their plans as well as they do. Their fielding is top-notch, and they maximize their talent. Credit to them for being one of the most consistent teams in ICC tournaments.”
Kohli also shared a heartfelt message for his long-time competitor and friend Kane Williamson, expressing mutual respect for each other’s journeys.
List of ICC Champions Trophy Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Host Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | South Africa | West Indies | Bangladesh |
| 2000 | New Zealand | India | Kenya |
| 2002 | India & Sri Lanka (Joint Winners) | – | Sri Lanka |
| 2004 | West Indies | England | England |
| 2006 | Australia | West Indies | India |
| 2009 | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa |
| 2013 | India | England | England & Wales |
| 2017 | Pakistan | India | England & Wales |
| 2025 | India | New Zealand | Pakistan & UAE |
Country with Most ICC Champions Trophy Triumph
| Rank | Country | Titles Won | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 3 | 2002*, 2013, 2025 |
| 2 | Australia | 2 | 2006, 2009 |
| 3 | South Africa | 1 | 1998 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 1 | 2000 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 1 | 2002* |
| 6 | West Indies | 1 | 2004 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 1 | 2017 |
Glimpses from the Final
