India Secures Third ICC Champions Trophy in a Thrilling Final Against New Zealand
India Clinches Record Third ICC Champions Trophy Title in Thrilling Final Against New Zealand
March 10, 2025: India triumphed in a nail-biting final against New Zealand to claim the ICC Champions Trophy for a record third time. The match, which went down to the wire, saw India chase down a target of 252 with six balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium. This historic victory adds to India’s previous titles in 2002 and 2013, surpassing Australia’s two wins in the tournament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt congratulations to Team India. He posted on X, “An exceptional game and an exceptional result! Proud of our cricket team for bringing home the ICC Champions Trophy. They’ve played wonderfully through the tournament. Congratulations to our team for the splendid all-round display.”
India began their chase with an aggressive start, thanks to captain Rohit Sharma’s first half-century of the tournament. Shreyas Iyer contributed with a solid 48 before KL Rahul played a crucial unbeaten knock of 34 runs, guiding India to victory. Hardik Pandya (18) and Ravindra Jadeja also played key roles, with Jadeja hitting the winning boundary in front of a roaring crowd predominantly dressed in blue.
New Zealand’s bowling attack tested India on a slow Dubai pitch, reducing them to 203/5 at one stage. However, they missed the services of their pace spearhead Matt Henry, who was ruled out of the final due to a shoulder injury. Captain Kane Williamson also suffered a setback, unable to take the field after his 11-run batting effort due to a quad strain.
India dominated the eight-nation tournament, remaining unbeaten throughout. Due to political tensions, they played all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after declining to tour hosts Pakistan. Their consistent performances reaffirmed their status as the world’s number one ODI team.
With this victory, India not only cemented its position as a powerhouse in international cricket but also gave fans a moment of immense pride. The triumph will be remembered as one of India’s finest performances on the global stage.
An exceptional game and an exceptional result!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 9, 2025
Proud of our cricket team for bringing home the ICC Champions Trophy. They’ve played wonderfully through the tournament. Congratulations to our team for the splendid all round display.
