India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Rohit, Rahul shine as IND clinch title after tense chase

IND vs NZ LIVE, Champions Trophy Final: Rohit, Rahul shine as India clinch title

India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India are the champions! The crowd erupts in jubilation as Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul bask in the glory of a stunning victory. Jadeja smashed the winning runs for India with a four, and raises his arm in celebration. Fireworks light up the sky as the Indian players rush onto the field to celebrate their heroes.

Ravindra Jadeja has come out to join KL Rahul, with India needing 11 to win with four wickets left after Hardik Pandya was out caught and bowled for 18. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya had the opportunity to become heroes as India enter the final five overs of the match. Rahul is growing in confidence, while Hardik took the pressure off India with a six off Rachin Ravindra.

This match is far from over, folks. New Zealand, who continue to chip away with wickets, have picked up another one, with Axar Patel holing out for 29. Sunil Gavaskar is not impressed, criticising him on air. With that, India lose their fifth wicket as this classic enters the final 10 overs. All eyes on KL Rahul and new man in Hardik Pandya.

OUT! New Zealand are still in this. Everytime there seems to be a drinks interval, some Kiwi magic unfolds. Another one brings another wicket for New Zealand, and it's of the well-set Shreyas Iyer, who misses his half-century by just two runs. Is there one final plot twist? Or more? India still need a few with the final 10 overs approaching, this one has all the makings of a humdinger.

Incredible moment! In what could very well be the game-changing moment of the final, Kyle Jamieson dropped Shreyas Iyer the ball after he smashed Glenn Phillips for a six. Meanwhile, a much-needed stand for India ensues as Shreyas and Axar Patel bring up their fifty-run partnership to calm some nerves.

The tension in the air can be felt as New Zealand apply the squeeze on India's scoring rate. But Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel are settling in playing the singles game and the occasional breakout shot. Too many dot balls a few overs ago tempted Rohit Sharma to go for the glory stroke, but unfortunately for him and India, the skipper couldn't put bat to ball and was out stumped. The crowd has gone eerily silent at the Dubai International Stadium as Axar Patel joined Shreyas Iyer.

India brought up their 100 in just the 17th over without losing a single wicket. On the day of the final, the captain raised his hand and declared, 'I am going to win this.' Rohit Sharma has blasted a 41-ball half-century to give India a rollicking start. His partner, Gill, though, was given a lifeline when he was dropped at mid-wicket. Not too long ago, a third six from the captain brought up India's fastest fifty of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rohit is doing Rohit things. Beginning the Indian innings with a flurry of boundaries and sixes as the Men in Blue are off to an absolute flyer in their chase of 252.

New Zealand finished on 251/7 in 50 overs against India, majorly due to a crucial half-century from Michael Bracewell after Daryl Mitchell's half-century played its part. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav were India's best bowlers on show, picking up two wickets each, and while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel didn't have too many wickets to show for their effort, their combined squeeze helped restrict New Zealand from getting to a much more threatening total.

While runs were tough for New Zealand to come by, Bracewell's allowed them to breach the 250-run mark. Mitchell Santner became the seventh New Zealand wicket to fall, getting run out thanks to a brilliant piece of work in the deep by Virat Kohli. The captain sacrificed his wicket to ensure Bracewell remained on strike and give New Zealand the kind of finish the team wanted.

Earlier, Mitchell jaywalked his way to a half-century off 93 balls but was dismissed soon after ending a very un-Mitchell-like innings. Mohammed Shami had him out caught by Rohit Sharma as the New Zealand innings boiled down to the last few overs. It wasn't just the slowest fifty of his career but also New Zealand's slowest in 11 years as the Indian spinner continued to tighten the screws on the opposition.

India, despite being a butter-fingered unit on the field, were rewarded with a wicket, with Chakaravarthy cleaning up Glenn Phillips. Phillips was beginning to look very dangerous for Team India, having batted his way to 34 off 52 balls before a gem of a delivery from Varun Chakaravarthy – a wrong one – did him to bring New Zealand down to their last five wickets.

India's quest for a fifth New Zealand wicket remained on hold for a while as dropped catches continued to haunt them. In a frustrating spell, Mitchell was given two lifelines in consecutive overs, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill emerging as the culprits behind the fielding lapses.

Phillips gave New Zealand a move on from their ultra-caution approach. With Daryl Mitchell holding one end up, Phillips has taken India aback with some lusty blows. He struck a six – first off the New Zealand innings after 81 balls – off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav before turning his attention to Ravindra Jadeja.

Earlier, Indian spinners troubled a New Zealand batter as Jadeja trapped Tom Latham out LBW to break a 33-run partnership. Absolutely no stopping Kuldeep Yadav as he now has two wickets in two overs – first cleaning up Rachin Ravindra and then foxing Kane Williamson to lob a simple catch back to him. India are cock-a-hoop at the moment. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep already spinning their web over the Kiwis in this contest.

Shami put down the dangerous-looking Rachin Ravindra, leaving Rohit Sharma distraught and immediately called for the physio to get some treatment. This is the third caught and bowled Shami let go, having dropped Travis Head and Steve Smith in the semifinal against Australia. Rachin enjoyed his luck, first taking DRS to reverse the decision of out and then getting dropped again – this time by Shreyas Iyer in the deep.

Here are a few pointers from the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final:

- India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets to clinch the title

- Axar Patel dismissed for 29 off 40 balls by Michael Bracewell

- Shreyas Iyer dismissed for 48 off 62 balls by Mitchell Santner

- Rohit Sharma dismissed for 76 off 83 balls by Rachin Ravindra

- Virat Kohli dismissed for 1 off 2 balls by Michael Bracewell.

- Shubman Gill dismissed for 31 off 50 balls by Mitchell Santner.

- Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put a 100-run partnership in 17 overs.

- Rohit Sharma smashes half-century in 41 balls.

- New Zealand posted 251/7 in their 50 overs against India.

- Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell scored important half-centuries.

- Mohammed Shami dismisses Daryl Mitchell for 63.

- Varun Chakaravarthy dismisses Glenn Phillips for 34.

- Ravindra Jadeja dismisses Tom Latham for 14.

- Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Kane Williamson for 11.

- Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Rachin Ravindra for 37.

- Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Will Young for 15

- New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat

- ⁠Nathan Smith replaced the injured Matt Henry

- Rohit Sharma lost his 12th consecutive toss, and India their 15th

- India have gone into the final with an unchanged XI

- India have never beaten New Zealand in the final of an ICC tournament

- New Zealand, in fact, beat India twice in an ICC final - the 2000 Champions Trophy and the 2021 World Test Championship.

After being watchful in the first three overs, Rachin showed first signs of intent when he pulled Hardik Pandya for a full-blooded six over cow corner, and followed it with a couple of more boundaries to make it a 16-run over. Runs didn't stop there. Rachin accelerated and how? Hammering four boundaries in a span of six deliveries to make Rohit Sharma put his thinking cap on.

New Zealand batted first after Santner won the toss. This makes it the 15th toss which India have lost in a row as Rohit Sharma's luckless streak with coins continues. No Matt Henry for New Zealand, as the captain announced, with Nathan Smith replacing him. India, meanwhile, have gone ahead with an unchanged side. No surprises there.

India vs New Zealand Head-to-Head in ODIs:

Matches Played: 119

India Won: 61

New Zealand Won: 50

Tied: 1

No Result: 7

India's Playing XI vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final:

Openers: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill

Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Pacer: Mohammed Shami

New Zealand's Playing XI vs India Champions Trophy final:

Openers: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra

Middle Order: Kane Williamson, Tom Latham(wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips

All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson,

Pacers: William O'Rourke, Nathan Smith