KL Rahul Reflects on Champions Trophy Win: "BCCI Groomed Us to Handle Pressure"
Rahul, often trolled for his slow knock in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, redeemed himself with a composed finishing role this time. Across five matches, he scored 140 runs at an average of 140.00 and a strike rate of 97.90, playing the role of India’s calm finisher in crucial moments.
“I was tense. We had a couple of batters left, but keeping calm and composed in these moments is crucial. I think I have batted in such situations in three out of five games in this Champions Trophy. The way BCCI has groomed us, and the domestic circuit has trained us to handle pressure, has helped us do well in situations like these,” Rahul said during the post-match ceremony.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who played a key role with both bat and ball, praised Rahul’s temperament and ability to finish matches under pressure.
“It is always amazing to win an ICC tournament, especially the Champions Trophy. 2017 was close to my heart, but we couldn’t finish the job then. This time, everyone contributed. KL Rahul was brilliant—calm, composed, and took his chances at the right time. That’s who KL Rahul is. I don’t think anyone can hit the ball like he can,” Pandya remarked.
New Zealand opted to bat first and posted 251/7 in 50 overs, with Daryl Mitchell (63), Michael Bracewell (53), and Rachin Ravindra (37)* leading their batting effort. However, Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) restricted the Kiwis effectively.
India started strong with a 105-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma (76) and Shubman Gill (31). Despite a few quick wickets, Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) steadied the innings before KL Rahul (34) and Hardik Pandya (18)* guided India to victory with six wickets in hand and an over to spare.
This win marks India’s third ICC Champions Trophy title, reinforcing their dominance in global cricket.
Tags: ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India vs New Zealand, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, BCCI, Team India, Cricket Final, Champions Trophy Winner
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