2025 Champions Trophy Winners: India Lift Champions Trophy after Beating New Zealand

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 delivered a thrilling finale, with India edging past New Zealand in a tense showdown to reclaim the coveted title. It was a victory that not only added another trophy to India’s collection but also helped erase the painful memories of their 2023 World Cup heartbreak.

For the third time in an ICC tournament final, India and New Zealand squared off, but this time, India finally came out on top. It wasn’t the smoothest of wins—there were plenty of nervy moments—but in the end, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya held their nerve against the Kiwi spinners, guiding India to a four-wicket triumph. With this, India secured their third Champions Trophy title, including the shared one with Sri Lanka back in 2002, and their first since 2013. The win also came less than nine months after their T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean, cementing their dominance in white-ball cricket. 

The game itself was a rollercoaster. At times, India looked in complete control, but New Zealand, ever the fighters, kept coming back with counterpunches. After an electric start, where the Kiwis raced to 69 for 1 inside 10 overs, India clawed back through spin, with Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) leading the charge on a turning track. Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 63 and Michael Bracewell’s late fireworks (53 off 40) ensured New Zealand posted a competitive 251 for 7, keeping the contest very much alive. 

India’s chase began in dream fashion, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill cruising, but things took a sharp turn after a drinks break. Glenn Phillips produced a moment of brilliance, pulling off a stunning catch that sent Gill back for 31. What followed was a mini-collapse—India went from 103 for no loss to 122 for 3 in just eight overs. Virat Kohli, guilty of closing his bat’s face too early, was trapped in front for just one by Bracewell. New Zealand sensed an opening and their spinners—Mitchell Santner, Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra—tightened the screws, much like India’s spinners had done earlier in the day. Rohit, struggling to rotate the strike, took the aggressive route but fell victim to Ravindra’s clever length adjustment. Charging down the track, he was beaten by turn, and Tom Latham did the rest behind the stumps, whipping the bails off in a flash. 

At 128 for 3, the pressure was on, but Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel weathered the storm, building a crucial 61-run stand. They absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike, and slowly shifted the momentum back in India’s favor. When the equation boiled down to 69 runs off 69 balls, it seemed like smooth sailing again. But just as India looked set, Iyer’s rash shot cost him his wicket for 48, giving New Zealand another lifeline. KL Rahul, calm as ever, walked in and immediately smashed a six to ease the tension. Axar Patel followed up with a boundary, but the Kiwis weren’t ready to roll over just yet. Bracewell, New Zealand’s standout performer, struck again, removing Axar in his final over to keep the contest alive. 

Enter Hardik Pandya. With the game on a knife’s edge, he and Rahul took charge, just as they had done against Australia earlier in the tournament. Their quickfire 38-run stand put India within touching distance of victory. When the final runs were scored, it was Jadeja and Rahul who sealed the deal, bringing India home in a tense finish. 

It was a match that had everything—twists, turns, brilliance from both sides, and a finish worthy of a final. But in the end, India’s depth, composure, and ability to handle pressure proved decisive. With another ICC trophy in the cabinet, the celebrations kicked off in style, as the team basked in the glory of a hard-earned, well-deserved triumph.