Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) — In a heart-stopping finale, India secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title on Sunday, defeating New Zealand by four wickets and affirming their position as the world’s premier white-ball cricket team.
Captain Rohit Sharma led by example, smashing a rapid 76 runs that propelled India to victory in a match that capped off their unbeaten streak in the tournament featuring the globe’s top eight teams. This triumph marks India’s second consecutive global title, showcasing their dominance in international cricket.
India’s remarkable record now boasts 22 wins out of their last 23 completed matches in ICC tournaments. Their only setback in recent times was the 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia, a disappointment this victory helps to alleviate.
However, some have raised questions about an apparent advantage India had by playing all their matches in Dubai. While other teams shuffled between venues in Pakistan and then flew to the UAE for matches against India, the eventual champions remained in Dubai, capitalizing on conditions that favored their strong spin bowling lineup. In the knockout stages, India’s quartet of spinners bowled 38 of the 50 overs against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma praised his spinners and expressed gratitude to the enthusiastic Indian fans who packed the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. “The crowd has been magnificent. It’s not our home ground, but they’ve made it our home ground,” he remarked.
Historically a challenging opponent for India in ICC events, New Zealand showcased a valiant effort. The Black Caps delivered a lion-hearted bowling performance while defending a modest total of 251-7. Under the new leadership of skipper Mitchell Santner, they can take pride in their spirited campaign, which included a tri-series victory in Pakistan leading up to the tournament. Their only losses came at the hands of India in this otherwise impressive Champions Trophy run.
