India’s dominance in white-ball cricket continued as they secured the Champions Trophy title with a composed four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. With a target of 252, India chased it down with six balls to spare, showcasing their skill, temperament, and control throughout the match.
New Zealand Struggles Against India’s Spin Web
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat, hoping to put up a challenging total. They started well, scoring 69 runs in the first 10-over powerplay. However, India’s spin attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, tightened the noose. Their 38 overs of spin choked the run flow, reducing the Kiwis to a slow grind.
Kuldeep set the tone early, dismissing Rachin Ravindra with a perfect googly. His next breakthrough came when Kane Williamson fell to a deceptive delivery. New Zealand struggled against the disciplined bowling, with Daryl Mitchell’s half-century (off 91 balls) being the slowest by a Kiwi batter in over a decade. From the 9th to the 43rd over, only four boundaries were hit, showing how well India controlled the game.
Michael Bracewell added a late flourish, scoring 67 runs off the last seven overs, but the total of 251-7 still felt below par against India’s strong batting lineup.
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Rohit Sharma Leads the Charge
India’s chase started aggressively. Rohit Sharma smashed 76 runs, setting the platform with a flurry of boundaries. His intent was clear from the second ball when he launched it for six. Shubman Gill contributed before falling to a stunning overhead catch by Glenn Phillips at extra cover.
Despite early momentum, New Zealand’s spin attack—Mitchell Santner, Bracewell, and Ravindra—slowed the scoring rate. The required run rate edged towards six per over, making the chase tighter.
KL Rahul Anchors the Finish
With the game delicately poised, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel chipped away at the target. KL Rahul, showing experience and composure, played the perfect finisher’s role. Even as he later admitted to being nervous, he guided India home with calculated stroke play.
New Zealand made tactical errors, notably holding back Kyle Jamieson until the 48th over when the match was almost over. India’s batters soaked up the pressure, rotated the strike, and accelerated at the right moments to clinch a memorable victory.
India’s Unmatched Dominance in Global Tournaments
This triumph cements India’s place as an all-time great white-ball team. Their record in the last three global tournaments is staggering—played 24, won 23. The team has mastered every aspect of the game, from disciplined bowling to fearless batting.
As Indian fans celebrated another ICC title, the team now sets its sights on the next global tournament—which, fittingly, will be hosted in India.
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