Rohit Sharma-led India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 defeating New Zealand in the final by four wickets. The Men in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the tournament as they defeated Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand in their group stage matches, after that the Men in Blue won their semifinal clash against Australia before facing New Zealand in the final of the marquee event.
KL Rahul was the unsung hero for India in the Champions Trophy. He featured in the mega event as a wicketkeeper batter and produced consistent performances behind the stumps and made valuable contributions with the bat in pressure situations. He batted in four out of five matches and scored 140 runs with three unbeaten knocks, including 34 34-run match-winning knock in the final against New Zealand.
Among all eight participating teams, India were the only one with five genuine spin options in their squad. That three of them - Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar - were equally good with the willow was an added advantage that no other side had. Sundar did not to get to play the game, but the other four - Varun Chakarvarthy and Kuldeep Yadav being the two specialist spinners - played a key role.
Chakaravarthy was added into the playing XI from India's third league match against New Zealand and ended his campaign as India's joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with pacer Mohammed Shami after playing just three matches. He picked up nine wickets at a strike rate of 20.
KL Rahul witnessed the whole tournament from behind the stumps But when asked by TV presenter Sanjana Ganesan, who also happens to be the wife of India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, about the "fun" quotient of keeping to India's spin quartet, Rahul replied: "Not fun, Sanjana! I have had to squat 200-250 times when these are spinners are bowling."
The answer brought out an instant laughter from Sanjana, who was working for the ICC during the marquee event.
"They are high quality. The pitches obviously assisted them a bit, which made them even more dangerous. That makes it even more challenging for me behind the stumps The way they have bowled, they way they have used those conditions have been phenomenal," Rahul continued.
Rahul reflects on India's Champions Trophy win
"ICC victories are not so easy to get and it's my first one, so I'm over the moon," Rahul said.
"It's been a complete team effort, all 11-12 players have stood up and their chance and opportunity has come and it's one of the biggest reasons why we have ended up winning the tournament."
Rohit-led India defeated New Zealand by four wickets at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. This was India's second consecutive ICC title win as Team India won the T20 World Cup in 2024 defeating South Africa in final.