India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets at the 2025 Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
It is the first ICC trophy in the ODI format for Rohit Sharma as captain. In 2023, India reached the ICC Cricket World Cup final on home soil but lost the game against Australia.
Yet again India lost the toss in Dubai, but spinners did make sure that New Zealand couldn’t score big. The Kiwis added 251/7 in 50 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav took two crucial wickets for in-form batsmen Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. However, Daryl Mitchell scored 63 runs in 101 balls. This allowed New Zealand to play all 50 overs, where Michael Bracewell added a quick 53 in 40 balls and led New Zealand to a decent total. Even Glenn Phillips’ 34 helped Mitchell and Bracewell of these batsmen to give India a decent target.
India captain Rohit Sharma opened the batting in style, adding 76 in 83 balls. His opening partner Shubman Gill scored 31 runs but lost the wicket from the set position.
After his dismissal, Virat Kolhi got out after scoring just one run to Michael Bracewell.
Shreyas Iyer then first had a good partnership with Rohit Sharma, scoring important 48 runs. Later, Iyer made a steady partnership with Axar Patel, who scored 29 runs in 40 balls but lost the wicket from a steady position at the time KL Rahul just came to the pitch.
KL Rahul then made a decent partnership with Hardik Pandya before fishing the game with Ravindra Jadeja. Rahul added not out 34 runs and just like semi-finals, he made sure that India won the game in style.
India have now won two of their last three Champions Trophy titles. In 2013, they beat England on their home soil. Four years later, in England, Pakistan beat India in the final.
And in 2025, India beat New Zealand by four wickets in 49 overs.
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