The invincible Team India signed off Champions Trophy 2025 on a high as they defeated New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9 to end 12-year wait, securing their record-extending third title in the tournament.
Chasing a tricky target of 252 runs, set by New Zealand after being asked to field first, India launched their run chase with an explosive start. Captain Rohit Sharma (76) led from the front, delivering a fiery half-century off just 41 balls. His aggressive knock, which was decorated with three sixes and seven fours, propelled India to their fastest team fifty of the tournament, achieved in a mere 7.1 overs. However, the early dismissal of Shubman Gill (31) and Virat Kohli (1), followed by Rohit Sharma's wicket, allowed New Zealand to make a comeback for a while but it didn't last long. Crucial partnerships between Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29), and later KL Rahul (34) and Hardik Pandya (18), were instrumental in steering India back towards victory. Ravindra Jadeja (9) did the rest by scoring the winning runs for India.
Axar Patel's ultimate praise for Hardik Pandya
Meanwhile, right after India's historic win, Axar Patel heaped immense praise on Hardik Pandya. He said that when the team was all under pressure, Hardik Pandya was the most confident guy. Hardik have always chipped in with his crucial contributions, be it with the bat or ball, whenever India needed him.
"jab hum sabki fatt jati hain, tab Hardik Pandya sabse jyada confident hota hain". 🥶🔥. (When we're all under pressure, Hardik is the most confident guy)," Axar Patel said after India win Champions Trophy 2025 title.
India scripted a massive record after winning Champions Trophy 2025 title win. India became the team with most, i.e three Champions Trophy titles breaking their tie with Australia. This adds to their previous wins in 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013. Champions Trophy 2025 title triumph comes just eight months after Rohit Sharma led the Men in Blue to their second T20 World Cup title in Barbados. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, India have displayed exceptional consistency, playing 23 matches across three consecutive ICC limited-overs events, with their only loss being in the CWC final against Australia.
The Champions Trophy victory also marks India's seventh ICC title since Kapil Dev's team's historic 1983 World Cup win at Lord's. The team's impressive ICC trophy cabinet now includes two Cricket World Cups, three Champions Trophy titles, and two T20 World Cup titles, placing them second only to Australia's record ten titles.