Skipper Rohit Sharma leads from the front as Men in Blue lift their third Champions Trophy title with four-wicket win over New Zealand
India’s spinners called the shots majorly to pick five wickets collectively on a sluggish pitch, while captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with 76 and KL Rahul stayed calm to hit an unbeaten 34 to give the Men in Blue their third Champions Trophy triumph with a four-wicket win over New Zealand here on Sunday.
In the final played on a sunny afternoon at the Dubai International Stadium, contrasting half-centuries by all-rounders Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (53 not out off 40 balls) took New Zealand to 251/7 in their 50 overs. The wrist spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy picked two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja had a scalp to his name.
A chase of 252 looked an easy task for India on a pitch that didn’t offer much turn, as Rohit, who hit seven fours and three sixes in his 83-ball 76, and Shubman Gill had a 105-run opening stand. But a fighting New Zealand striking regular blows meant there was a sudden nervous energy in India’s chase.
But the enviable batting depth, despite New Zealand’s spinners fighting hard, meant India got over the line with an over to spare. While Iyer made 48 off 62 balls, Rahul kept his calm to stay till the end and be 34 not out off 33 balls to ensure India earned their third Champions Trophy title after 2002 and 2013. It’s also India’s second ICC trophy win in 12 months after the T20 World Cup triumph in June last year.
The Dubai triumph now makes India the most successful team in the Champions Trophy’s history, and they accomplished it in front of a stadium majorly filled with Indian fans. This is India’s first title in an ICC ODI event in 12 years. The title would also come as a soothing balm for the Indian team and its ardent fans after it missed out on the 2023 ODI World Cup triumph on home soil.
