India beat New Zealand by four wickets to win ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India beat New Zealand by four wickets to win ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The celebrations will go on in the Indian camp until the break of dawn. The Men in Blue are basking in the glory of their triumph after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament made its long-awaited return after eight years, and it proved to be an entertaining spectacle that has left an indelible mark on the memories of fans worldwide.
Captain Rohit Sharma set the tone with a blistering 76 off 83 balls in the chase and was named Player of the Match. New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, who scored 263 runs including two centuries, was crowned Player of the Tournament.
Rohit Sharma lifts the trophy
The players of the Indian team were invited onto the stage to collect their white jackets — a symbol of victory and distinction for the winners of the Champions Trophy. Last but by no means least, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, walked up to wear his jacket. The moment arrived when Rohit accepted the prestigious Champions Trophy from ICC Chairman Jay Shah, with fireworks lighting up the night sky as he held the trophy aloft.
Rohit began his acceptance speech by thanking the crowd for their support throughout the tournament. “This is not their home ground, and the way the crowd turned up was amazing,” he said. He added that, right from the beginning, India's spinners in particular never disappointed, and he acknowledged his bowlers for doing well throughout.
On KL Rahul, Rohit said: “He is the one with a solid and calm mind, the one who never gets bogged under pressure. His calm and composed batting under pressure conditions allows the others to play freely, especially for someone like Hardik Pandya.”
On Varun Chakaravarthy, the captain noted: “He has something very different in him. When you are playing on such pitches, you want to have someone like him. He didn't start but played in the latter matches and got crucial wickets. Luckily for us, it came to use, and we just wanted to maximise his abilities.”
Rohit also reflected on his own innings: “I get the backing of the team to try and be different and I got the right support from Rahul Dravid back in the ODI World Cup and from Gautam here. Having played at this venue, I understand the nature of the pitch and I try to use my feet and have a clear mindset of how to target the first few overs.”
Santner proud despite defeat
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner collected his medal and conceded his side were beaten by a better team on the day. “I couldn't have asked for more from the group as a captain,” he said. “It was challenging to start, but I credit India for their approach. We were about 20-25 runs short, but the team's fighting spirit was evident, and I am happy with the effort shown.”
Santner singled out Rohit's contribution: “The first Powerplay was the best time to bat, and Rohit was outstanding during that period.” He added that captaining New Zealand for the first time in an ICC event was very enjoyable, with different players stepping up at different moments making his job easier.
Player of the Tournament
Rachin Ravindra received the Player of the Tournament award for his 263 runs, including two tons. “It's been a great finale and we played really good cricket. I credit India for being a strong side,” he said. On what makes him such a force in ICC events, he explained: “I like to play tournament cricket as there is a common goal to win the trophy and I think that is what brings the best out of me.” He admitted it would have been the icing on the cake had New Zealand won, but added: “Cricket can be a cruel sport sometimes.”
Kohli hails the next generation
Virat Kohli joined the conversation and said the triumph was about bouncing back after a tough Australia tour. “It is lovely to play with such an amazing bunch of youngsters. They have stepped up and are taking this Indian team in the right direction,” he said, adding that the team is in good hands.
On New Zealand, Kohli said: “We have always been in awe of what the Kiwis can do with a limited number of players. They come in with a set plan and are complemented well by the fielders too. Every player in the New Zealand camp has immense belief in their skills and they are the best fielding side.” He also paid tribute to Kane Williamson: “It is sad to see a good friend on the losing side. There's only respect between both of us.”
Gill, Kuldeep, Varun, Shreyas and Hardik react
Shubman Gill said it felt amazing and that he mostly sat back and enjoyed Rohit's batting. “We kept talking to each other and our partnership was really important. Rohit told me it doesn't matter how big the scoreboard gap is, the aim should be to bat as long as possible,” Gill said, delighted to win eight back-to-back ODIs after missing out in 2023.
Kuldeep Yadav credited KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja for finishing the game and praised the planning behind Rohit managing four spinners: “That isn't very easy and the planning put in place was immaculate.”
Varun Chakaravarthy described his late call-up as a dream come true: “It was a sudden inclusion and I didn't expect it to turn up like this. It was all about sticking to the plans.”
Shreyas Iyer, overwhelmed at winning his first ICC Trophy, said: “I like to thrive under pressure. I haven't been able to convert my starts to a big one but whenever my knock comes in handy for the team's win, I feel good about it.”
Hardik Pandya, wrapped in the Indian tricolour, expressed his delight: “Back in 2017, we couldn't do the job but I feel happy to do it this time around. KL took the chances at the right time.”
Ravindra Jadeja praised the finishing kick: “Hardik and KL Rahul batted really well in the last 10 overs on a tricky pitch which changed the game.”
With the presentation complete and the white jackets donned, India sign off the Champions Trophy 2025 as deserving champions, leaving fans already craving the next chapter.