ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Cricket final India Vs New Zealand match report
IND vs NZ, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India defeats New Zealand in the final, claiming an unprecedented third title. Captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in the match, scoring an impressive 76 runs off 83 balls, which helped set the foundation for India’s successful chase.
The Indian men’s cricket team defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Sunday.
India’s Previous Champions Trophy Wins: 2002 and 2013
India has achieved a significant milestone by winning their third title, making them the most successful team in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy. Previously, they were joint-winners with Sri Lanka in 2002 and secured their second title by defeating England in Birmingham in 2013. In the latest match, India was asked to field first after losing the coin toss, which marked a record-extending 15th time. They successfully restricted New Zealand to 251 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs.
Daryl Mitchell Leads New Zealand’s Batting with 63 Runs
Daryl Mitchell scored 63 runs off 101 balls, making him the top scorer for the Black Caps. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking 2 wickets for 40 runs. In response, India successfully chased down the target with one over to spare. Captain Rohit Sharma’s crucial innings of 76 runs off 83 balls set the foundation for the victory. Michael Bracewell was the best bowler for New Zealand, finishing with figures of 2 wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs.
Rachin Ravindra’s Quickfire Knock Sets the Tone
New Zealand, who won the Champions Trophy in 2000 by defeating India in the final, got off to a strong start with Rachin Ravindra scoring a quick 37 runs off 29 balls at the top of the order. India dropped a couple of catches early on, but Varun Chakravarthy managed to trap Will Young LBW, breaking the 57-run opening partnership in the eighth over.
Chakravarthy Breaks the Stand, Leaving New Zealand in Trouble
Kuldeep Yadav made an immediate impact by bowling out Ravindra with his first delivery in the 11th over and then dismissing Kane Williamson on his next ball, leaving New Zealand at 75/3. India’s spinners took control during the middle overs, restricting runs so effectively that New Zealand went 81 balls without hitting a boundary. Tom Latham fell for a low score, but Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell managed to build a resilient partnership, putting together 57 runs off 87 balls. However, Chakravarthy ended the partnership by bowling out Phillips in the 38th over, which brought New Zealand to 165/5. New Zealand staged a late resurgence, led by Michael Bracewell’s aggressive knock of 53 runs off just 40 balls, as they scored 79 runs in the final 10 overs.
India’s Spinners Dominate New Zealand’s Batting Line-up
The Indian spin quartet, consisting of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy, played a crucial role by conceding just 144 runs in the 38 overs they bowled collectively. Among the Indian pacers, Mohammed Shami took the wicket of Daryl Mitchell and finished with figures of 1 for 74.
Rohit Sharma Sets the Tone with a Six on the Second Ball
India’s chase started strong, with Rohit Sharma hitting a pull shot for six on the second ball of the innings, setting a positive tone. While Shubman Gill anchored the other end, Rohit Sharma reached his fifty off just 41 balls in the 11th over, with the score at 65 for no loss. The chase appeared to be on track as the Men in Blue raced to 100 runs in just 17 overs.
Glenn Phillips’ Stunning One-Handed Catch Dismisses Gill
However, Glenn Phillips made a remarkable play in the field, taking a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss Gill in the 19th over, breaking their partnership. Shortly after, Virat Kohli was trapped leg before wicket by Michael Bracewell in the following over.
New Zealand Applies Pressure in Middle Overs
Similar to India’s spinners in the first innings, New Zealand applied pressure during the middle overs. Rohit, eager to accelerate the scoring, charged down the pitch against Rachin Ravindra in the 27th over but was stumped, leaving India in a precarious position at 122/3. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel worked to rebuild the innings cautiously before shifting gears as the target was reduced to 91 runs off the final 15 overs. Iyer played with intent and took calculated risks, but he was dismissed for 48 in the 39th over, leaving India still needing to score more than a run a ball to reach their goal.
Top Performers of the Tournament: Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry
Axar Patel and KL Rahul hit some big shots, bringing the target down to 50 runs in the last nine overs. Axar Patel got out in the next over, but KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya worked together to get closer to the target. Pandya was out in the 48th over, but Jadeja and Rahul, who scored 34 runs off 33 balls, ensured India reached the target without any problems.
India remained undefeated in the tournament. They beat Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in their Group A matches. They also won against Australia by four wickets in the semi-finals to reach the final. Rachin Ravindra scored the most runs in the tournament with 263 runs in four matches, while Matt Henry took the most wickets, with 10 from four matches.
Conclusion
India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, claiming their third title with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand. Captain Rohit Sharma scored 76 runs, while Indian spinners restricted New Zealand to 251/7. Despite a late fightback from Michael Bracewell, India successfully chased the target with contributions from KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. Remaining unbeaten in the tournament, India defeated top teams and solidified their status as the most successful team in Champions Trophy history. Rachin Ravindra was the top run-scorer with 263 runs, and Matt Henry took the most wickets with 10.
