Unstoppable and undefeated: India won the Champions Trophy
India claimed the Champions Trophy title on Sunday by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai. Captain Rohit Sharma led the way with a solid 76, while Shreyas Iyer contributed 48, and KL Rahul remained unbeaten with 34, helping India chase down New Zealand’s target of 252 with six balls remaining.
Throughout the tournament, every player in the final eleven contributed with at least one game-changing performance.
Emotions overflowed—Jadeja grabbed a stump and playfully shook his legs, KL Rahul shouted with joy, and the excited teammates rushed onto the field—as India successfully chased down 252 with four wickets and six balls remaining, ending a long wait for a global tournament victory in this format.
Though the finish was intense, there was no doubt India would prevail. Even after losing quick wickets—18 for three following a century partnership between Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, and later 20 for 2—India remained composed. When Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit were dismissed in quick succession, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel put together 61 runs. After they were out, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya took charge. Once Hardik departed, Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja calmly steered the team to victory.
Though it didn’t erase the disappointment of losing the World Cup final 15 months earlier, this win reinforced that India remains a dominant force in white-ball cricket. India claimed the final and the entire tournament with a sense of inevitability. Their performance was top-notch, with every player in the final eleven delivering at least one impactful performance throughout the tournament.
India dominated every opponent, showing a ruthless efficiency similar to Australia’s dominance in the 2000s. The slow and sluggish pitches worked in their favor, and they made the most of them with precision. The spinners played a key role in their success, but the seamers also did their part effectively. Mohammed Shami was the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakaravarthy. Harshit Rana impressed in the two matches he played, and Hardik Pandya delivered crucial spells at the start, middle, and end of the innings.
Similarly, batting heroes emerged from all corners of the team. Contributions flowed from everyone, from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya. Virat Kohli anchored the chases with his usual confidence; Rohit provided fast starts, Gill brought stability, Shreyas added creativity, Rahul played innings suited to different situations, and Axar showcased powerful hitting.
However, the real stars were the unique spin quartet. The two left-arm spinners, a left-arm wrist spinner, and an unorthodox leg-spinner delivered a fantastic performance. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Varun, and Kuldeep Yadav collectively took 26 wickets, many at crucial points, while maintaining an impressive economy rate of just 4.5 runs per over.
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