India secured the ICC Champions Trophy with a composed four-wicket victory over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing 252, they reached the target with six balls to spare, showcasing their dominance throughout the tournament.
Despite the controversy surrounding the tournament format, India’s triumph was built on skill, composure, and an unwavering belief in their abilities. Their journey through the competition had an air of inevitability, with each victory reinforcing their status as the world’s premier white-ball side.
New Zealand, after traveling extensively through the tournament, fought hard but ultimately fell short. They won the toss and posted a competitive 251-7, but their batting was stifled by India’s spin quartet. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja bowled with precision, restricting New Zealand’s scoring opportunities. The early powerplay yielded 69 runs, but the Kiwis struggled thereafter, taking until the 31st over to double their score.
Kuldeep set the tone with a beautifully disguised googly to dismiss Rachin Ravindra. His controlled variations and impeccable lengths frustrated the New Zealand batters, leading to a succession of dismissals where they failed to get forward. Daryl Mitchell’s patient 91-ball half-century was the slowest by a New Zealander in over a decade, underlining India’s stranglehold. A late surge from Michael Bracewell pushed the total past 250, but it always seemed below par.
In response, India started aggressively. Rohit Sharma signaled intent by smashing the second ball of the innings for six. His fluent 76 set the foundation before Glenn Phillips produced a stunning catch to dismiss Shubman Gill. By then, India had already knocked off 105 runs, setting themselves up for a comfortable chase.
New Zealand fought back through spin, with Mitchell Santner and Ravindra slowing the scoring rate. Phillips bowled a steady but unthreatening spell when wickets were needed, and Kyle Jamieson was inexplicably held back until the 48th over, by which point the game was all but lost.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel chipped away at the target, while KL Rahul anchored the finish, despite admitting to some nerves as the chase tightened. Ultimately, India’s calm execution ensured they crossed the line with an over to spare.
The victory was celebrated in front of a largely Indian crowd, many of whom had flown to Dubai at the last minute to witness another display of their team’s dominance. The spin attack’s control, Rohit’s aggression, and Rahul’s composed finish encapsulated the team’s superiority.
India’s recent white-ball record is staggering 23 wins from their last 24 matches in ICC events. With the next global tournament set to be hosted in India, they remain the team to beat, their combination of skill, experience, and tactical nous setting them apart from the rest of the cricketing world.
