India Clinch Third Champions Trophy with Thrilling Win Over New Zealand!

India secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Displaying a remarkable all-round performance, India successfully chased down a target of 252 with six balls to spare, cementing their dominance in the marquee tournament.

Winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bat first and posted a competitive 251/7 in their 50 overs. Despite a solid start from Will Young and Rachin Ravindra, India’s spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, took control in the middle overs, restricting the Black Caps to a run rate of just 3.30 between the 11th and 30th overs. Varun dismissed Young for 21, trapping him lbw in the eighth over, while Kuldeep bowled Ravindra for 37 and later dismissed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort.

The Black Caps relied on Daryl Mitchell’s composed 63 off 101 balls, supported by Tom Latham’s 14 and Glenn Phillips’ 34. Michael Bracewell provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls, guiding New Zealand to a competitive total. Captain Mitchell Santner was run out in the penultimate over as New Zealand pushed for quick runs in the final phase.

In response, India got off to a flying start with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting together a solid 105-run partnership. Rohit led from the front with a brilliant 76 off 83 balls, while Gill contributed 31 before being dismissed by Glenn Phillips off Mitchell Santner’s bowling. The momentum shifted momentarily as Michael Bracewell trapped Virat Kohli lbw for just 1, and Rachin Ravindra stumped Rohit, bringing New Zealand back into the contest.

Shreyas Iyer added a valuable 48 before falling to Ravindra, and Axar Patel departed three overs later. Hardik Pandya chipped in with a crucial 18-run cameo before being caught and bowled by Kyle Jamieson in the 48th over. With wickets falling at crucial junctures, India faced tense moments but held their nerve. KL Rahul (34* off 33 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (23* off 19 balls) steered the team home, ensuring a historic victory.

India’s bowlers played a significant role in setting up the triumph. Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/45) were instrumental in containing New Zealand, while Jadeja’s all-round contributions further bolstered India’s performance.

With this victory, India became the first team to win the Champions Trophy three times, having previously lifted the title in 2002 and 2013. Notably, they achieved the feat without losing a single match in the tournament, highlighting their dominance on the global stage.

Team Maverick.