India Clinches Third Champions Trophy Title
India won the ICC Champions Trophy for the third time, previously winning in 2002 (joint-winners with Sri Lanka) and in 2013 under MS Dhoni’s leadership.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Breakthrough Spell
Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Rachin Ravindra on the first ball of the 11th over, shifting momentum in India's favor. He took two crucial wickets, restricting New Zealand’s comeback.
New Zealand Sets a Target of 252 Runs
New Zealand batted first and posted 251/7 in 50 overs, with Michael Bracewell scoring an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls.
Rohit Sharma’s Match-Winning Knock
Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front, scoring 76 off 83 balls and was named Man of the Match for his crucial innings.
Shubman Gill and Rohit’s Strong Start
India raced to 100 runs in just 17 overs, with Rohit scoring 49 out of the first 64 runs, laying a solid foundation.
New Zealand Fights Back with Spin
Santner and Bracewell took two wickets each, slowing India's momentum by dismissing Gill (39) and Kohli (1) in quick succession.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul Steady the Chase
Iyer played a counterattacking knock of 48, while KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 guided India to victory in the 49th over with six wickets down.
Varun Chakravarthy’s Crucial Spell
Varun took two key wickets, dismissing opener Will Young and later Phillips, finishing with figures of 2/45 in 10 overs.
Axar Patel and Jadeja’s Economical Bowling
While Axar Patel remained wicketless, he conceded only 29 runs in 8 overs. Jadeja took 1 wicket for 30 runs in 10 overs, maintaining tight control.
Nationwide Celebrations & Political Leaders React
PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Rahul Gandhi congratulated Team India, calling the victory a historic moment for Indian cricket.
India's victory avenged their 2000 Champions Trophy final loss to New Zealand, making this triumph even more special! 🎉🏆