After 2013, India once again lifted the Champions Trophy title. At the end of the day, another feather was added to Rohit Sharma’s crown. It was an intense and thrilling match—exactly how a final should be.
The Champions Trophy final delivered a spectacle befitting its grandeur. While playing at the same venue gave India some expected advantages, New Zealand did not let them capitalize much on it. Yet, in the end, Rohit Sharma’s crown gained another feather.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first. Rachin Ravindra tried to justify that decision. The pitch had little movement—there was neither excessive bounce nor unpredictable ones. Rachin batted aggressively from the start.
However, Kuldeep Yadav put an end to that aggression. The Indian chinaman spinner turned the game in India’s favor by taking two wickets in two consecutive overs. He bowled Rachin Ravindra and then dismissed Kane Williamson with a catch of his own.
At that moment, New Zealand’s hopes of winning the title seemed to fade. Indian spinners tightened their grip, and Daryl Mitchell’s slow innings of 63 runs from 101 balls worked in India’s favor. Michael Bracewell, however, gave some momentum back to the Kiwis.
His innings, played at a strike rate of 132, gave New Zealand a fighting chance. But Rohit Sharma, the “Hitman,” soon made it a one-sided contest. India raced past 100 runs without losing a wicket.
At that moment, Glenn Phillips stole the spotlight with an unbelievable Superman-like catch in mid-air. Immediately after Shubman Gill’s departure, the chase master Virat Kohli followed suit, getting dismissed on the very next ball.
India’s chances of winning seemed shaky. The game became intense after Rohit was dismissed for 76. However, Shreyas Iyer ensured India stayed in the contest. He kept his team in the hunt but got out before reaching his fifty, once again tilting the match in New Zealand’s favor. Axar Patel’s departure further strengthened the Black Caps’ grip on the game.
But “The Silent Killer” KL Rahul held his ground firmly. While Hardik Pandya provided a brief storm, Rahul stood like a pillar at the other end. With calm determination, he once again broke New Zealand’s hearts, guiding India to victory. He left the field only after securing the title for his team.
After 2013, India lifted the Champions Trophy once again.
