India Clinches the Champions Trophy in Dubai
India clinched the Champions Trophy title for the third time after outlasting New Zealand in a tense final that concluded with a four-wicket victory at a packed stadium in Dubai. India’s pursuit of 252 began with a flourish, as captain Rohit Sharma dominated the early overs before his team endured a minor collapse triggered by three wickets falling for only 17 runs. Despite losing the talismanic Virat Kohli cheaply and seeing Rohit depart after scoring a splendid 76, India remained on track, with Shreyas Iyer contributing a measured 48. Axar Patel’s 29 helped steady the chase, while Hardik Pandya’s quick-fire 18 pushed India closer. KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 ensured that the required run rate never spiraled out of control, and Ravindra Jadeja’s final flick off his hip with an over to spare sealed a hard-earned win.
India’s spinning trio once again showed their dominance by restricting New Zealand to 251-7. Across this tournament, India’s frontline spinners collectively claimed 26 wickets at an average economy of under 4.5 runs per over, a remarkable feat that underlined their control. New Zealand fought valiantly—particularly through Michael Bracewell’s brisk 53 off 40 balls and Glenn Phillips’ one-handed stunner in the field—but they were consistently checked by India’s bowlers. The Black Caps’ total was boosted by Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 63 off 101 deliveries, but the scarcity of boundaries in the middle overs underscored the difficulty of overcoming India’s spin threat.
This triumph cements India’s status as the premier white-ball side in the world, following their previous T20 World Cup success. Rohit’s side topped the group stage of the Champions Trophy with an unbeaten record and boasted an overall run rate of approximately 5.8 per over—the best in the competition. For New Zealand, this final marks another disappointment, adding to their tally of recent near-misses in major limited-overs events. Although the championship match was initially set to be held in Lahore, unresolved travel disagreements led to a switch to Dubai, where India enjoyed strong, home-like support from a crowd of nearly 25,000.
Rohit Sharma praised his young teammates for their significant contribution, emphasizing that India’s new generation is elevating the nation’s cricketing prowess. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner conceded that his team was around 20 runs short and commended the world-class quality of India’s spinners. As fireworks lit the Dubai skyline, India celebrated a victory that both reaffirms their dominance and sets the stage for the next generation to defend the nation’s growing legacy when they co-host the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.
Don’t miss out on the latest sports news and expert insights, stay updated with Betway Arabia.
