March 12, 2025: India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, expressed immense joy as the Men in Blue clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, following a thrilling victory over New Zealand in the final. The tournament, which took place from February 19 to March 9, in Pakistan and the UAE, saw India securing their third Champions Trophy title with an all-around performance.
Gambhir, who was seen at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, shared his thoughts on the victory before catching a flight to Dehradun for the wedding of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's sister. "I am very happy, and the whole nation is happy," Gambhir said to the media, reflecting the excitement of the entire country.
The final match was an exhilarating affair, with India chasing down New Zealand's total with determination. The standout performance came from Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who played a match-winning knock of 76 runs off 83 balls, including seven boundaries and three sixes. His leadership and performance were crucial in taking India to the title, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Shreyas Iyer also contributed significantly to the win, while the Indian spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, played key roles with the ball, ensuring that New Zealand's chase was not easy. India's bowling attack was tight, and their all-round performance proved too much for the Kiwis.
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was awarded the Golden Bat and the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances throughout the series. He scored 263 runs across four matches, including two centuries, at an average of 65.75, and contributed with the ball as well. His knock of 37 runs in the final helped his team get off to a solid start.
New Zealand's Matt Henry finished as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, claiming 10 wickets in four matches, including a five-wicket haul against India in the group stage. His exceptional bowling was one of the highlights of New Zealand's campaign.
With this victory, India has firmly established themselves as one of the premier teams in world cricket, and Gautam Gambhir's leadership as head coach is being hailed for guiding the team to another prestigious title.
Last Updated on March 12, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
