The Dubai night was filled with fireworks as Team India hailed their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory after a heart-stopping chase against New Zealand. The final lived up to its tag as momentum went back and forth between the two teams before India clinched a historic four-wicket win.
The Indian players hugged each other warmly and congratulated each other with handshakes, basking in the euphoria of their hard-earned victory. Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh treated the audience to a Gangnam-style dance, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma infused a cultural touch with a dandiya celebration with stumps.
India clinch the #ChampionsTrophy 2025 ???#INDvNZ ✍️: https://t.co/SGA6TKUuGX pic.twitter.com/KNqpqREQ0I
— ICC (@ICC) March 9, 2025
Redemption for India After 2017 Heartbreak
Having lost in the 2017 final, India came into this tournament with one definite goal in mind—to reclaim the Champions Trophy. Their impressive campaign reached a nail-biting climax, when they kept their cool to pick up the coveted title.
New Zealand, in spite of the disappointment, exhibited great resilience in the tournament. Their gallant struggle till the final over demonstrated the fighting spirit they have displayed time and again on the world stage.
Players React to India’s Historic Win
Hardik Pandya: “Always Amazing to Win an ICC Event.” Reflecting on the victory, Hardik Pandya recalled India’s disappointment in 2017 but expressed his joy at finally securing the title.
“Always amazing to win an ICC event. I remember 2017 very closely, couldn’t finish that time. Very pleased to have done it here. KL was calm, he took his chances at the right time. He has immense talent, no one can time it as well as him.”
Ravindra Jadeja: “Winning the CT is a Huge Thing”
Jadeja accepted the experience of playing under pressure and credited Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for being instrumental.
“That is how it is with me; sometimes a hero, sometimes a zero. The wicket was not easy for a new batter. Hardik and KL were great. Winning the CT is a huge thing. If you don’t win a big tournament after playing so long, it hurts.’
KL Rahul: “Hard to Put in Words”
KL Rahul, who was instrumental in the pursuit, conceded that he was nervous but underlined the need for composure.
“Not sure I can say this on air but I was s****** myself. As confident as I could be that I could get over the line. Keeping composure is all that matters, happy to have done it this time. I’ve batted in times like this in three out of the five games. Hard to put in words, but the team has pure skill. The way we’ve all had to play cricket growing up, we faced pressure from the time we became professional cricketers. The BCCI have groomed all of them and we’ve challenging ourselves to get better.”
