Ending a 12-year wait, Team India lifted their record-extending third Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand by 4 wickets in a gripping final.!

Rohit Sharma's Explosive Start Sets the Tone

Chasing a challenging target of 252 after being asked to bowl first by New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, India made a blazing start. Skipper Rohit Sharma delivered a turbo-charged half-century, reaching his fifty in just 41 balls with a flurry of boundaries, including three sixes. His aggressive approach helped India notch their fastest team fifty of the tournament in just 7.1 overs.

Despite losing Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, Rohit’s departure on 76 allowed New Zealand to claw back into the contest. However, crucial partnerships between Shreyas Iyer-Axar Patel and the composed duo of KL Rahul-Hardik Pandya stabilized the innings, guiding India closer to victory.

Jadeja’s Finishing Touch

With the match hanging in the balance, Ravindra Jadeja sealed the tense chase in the penultimate over, striking the winning runs off pacer Will O’Rourke to spark celebrations across the Indian camp.

India's Historic Achievement

This victory breaks India's tie with Australia, giving them a record third Champions Trophy title, adding to their triumphs in 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka) and 2013. The win comes just eight months after Rohit Sharma led India to their second T20 World Cup title in Barbados, reinforcing India's dominance in ICC white-ball tournaments.

Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, India has played 23 matches across three consecutive ICC limited-overs events, with only one loss in the CWC final against Australia.

This latest Champions Trophy win is India’s seventh ICC title, following victories in two Cricket World Cups, three Champions Trophies, and two T20 World Cups. Rohit Sharma also joins MS Dhoni as only the second Indian captain to win multiple ICC trophies, cementing his legacy as one of India’s most successful leaders.