India etched their name in history once again, securing their third ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a gripping final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In a contest dominated by spin, captain Rohit Sharma led from the front with a sublime 76, setting the platform for India’s chase of 252. Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs, sealing victory with an over to spare as India became the first team to lift the trophy three times—adding to their triumphs in 2002 and 2013. The Men in Blue also finished the tournament unbeaten, further stamping their authority on the global stage.

Spin Puts the Brakes on New Zealand

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, New Zealand made a promising start as openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra stitched together a solid 57-run stand. However, Rohit’s decision to introduce spin early proved decisive, tightening the screws on the Kiwi batting lineup.

Varun Chakravarthy struck first, trapping Young in front for 15, before Kuldeep Yadav produced a beauty to bowl Ravindra (37) with a deceptive googly just 14 balls later. Kane Williamson, the backbone of New Zealand’s batting, failed to replicate his semi-final heroics and chipped a return catch to Kuldeep in the 13th over, leaving his side struggling at 75 for three.

Jadeja then trapped Tom Latham lbw for 14, forcing the Black Caps into damage-control mode. Daryl Mitchell (63) and Glenn Phillips (34) provided some resistance, forging a crucial fifth-wicket stand. But India’s stranglehold continued, with New Zealand managing just a single boundary in 81 balls—a stunning statistic in a high-stakes final.

Phillips tried to break free, launching Kuldeep for a six, but Chakravarthy struck back with another clever googly to remove him in the 38th over. Mitchell’s patient 91-ball fifty kept New Zealand in the hunt, but he fell to Mohammed Shami, picking out Rohit at cover.

Michael Bracewell’s late blitz, a 39-ball 53*, pushed New Zealand to 251 for seven, with Mitchell Santner run out for eight in the final over.

Rohit Sets the Tone Before Middle-Order Holds Nerve

India’s chase began in explosive fashion, with Rohit wasting no time in imposing himself. The veteran opener pulled Kyle Jamieson for six off just the second ball of the innings and then tore into Nathan Smith, plundering 21 runs from his first two overs.

Shubman Gill, handed a lifeline by Mitchell on six, provided excellent support. He showcased his intent with a towering six off Ravindra in the 14th over, helping India bring up the first-ever century opening stand in a Champions Trophy final. But just when it seemed the pair would take the game away, Phillips produced a moment of brilliance, diving to his right to take a one-handed stunner and dismiss Gill for 31.

India suffered another setback three balls later as Virat Kohli was trapped lbw by Bracewell for just one, leaving them 108 for two after 20 overs.

Rohit, sensing the need to accelerate, attempted to take on Ravindra but misjudged the length and was stumped by Latham for 76. The momentum momentarily shifted, but Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) steadied the ship with a crucial half-century stand.

Iyer, in particular, showed his aggressive intent, smashing Phillips for a massive six to bring up his fifty-run stand. However, a lapse in concentration saw him fall to Ravindra, with Jamieson making amends for his earlier drop.

With India needing 49 from the final eight overs, the pressure mounted. Hardik Pandya’s powerful six off Ravindra in the 46th over swung the pendulum back in India’s favor, but his dismissal for 18 left the equation at 11 runs from 13 balls.

Calm under pressure, KL Rahul (34*) and Jadeja (9*) held their nerve, steering India to victory with six balls to spare—sparking jubilant celebrations across Dubai and beyond.

Score Summary:

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy Final – New Zealand vs. India, Dubai

New Zealand: 251/7 (50 overs)

* Daryl Mitchell 63, Michael Bracewell 53*
* Kuldeep Yadav 2/40, Varun Chakravarthy 2/42

India: 254/6 (49 overs)

* Rohit Sharma 76, Shreyas Iyer 48
* Michael Bracewell 2/28, Mitchell Santner 1/45

Result: India won by four wickets

With this historic win, India reaffirmed their dominance in world cricket, etching another golden chapter in their illustrious legacy.