India won by 4 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Rohit Sharma
Batter
Bowler
The winners white jackets are being presented to the Indian players. Starting with Varun Chakaravarthy and they all come one by one. Rohit is the last one in the line-up. Will he do the slow walk today as well? Jay Shah to present the trophy. Rohit collects the trophy. The rest of the team join him on the podium. The confetti goes off in the background as India celebrate under the CHAMPIONS 2025 board. The celebrations will go late into the night.
Rohit Sharma: I want to appreciate everyone who came out and supported us. The crowd here has been magnificent, it is not our home ground but they made it our home ground. The number of people that came here to watch us play, to give them that win was satsifying. Not just this game but right through, our spinners in particular, there's too much expectations when you are playing on a pitch like that. We do understand their strengths and used it to our advantage. (on KL) Very solid mind, never gets over-rawed by the pressure around him, that's the resason we wanted to have him in the middle phase, there's a bit of calmness when he bats and picks the right shot to play to the situation, he gives the freedom to others to play freely like Hardik. (on Varun) He has got something different about him. When we are playing on such pitches we want the batters to do something different. He didn't start off in the tournament for us, but when he played against New Zealand and picked up a 5-fer, we wanted to maximise that. He has great quality in his bowling. Very grateful, really appreciate their support and getting behind the team. When they come out and get behind the team it makes a huge difference.
Now it is India's players walking out to receive the medals. Last one would be Rohit Sharma and chants of "Rohit, Rohit" once again ring around the venue.
Mitchell Santner | New Zealand captain: It has been a good tournament. We had challenges along the way, but we have grown as a group and played some good cricket. We were beaten by a good side who turned up today. Lot of good stuff from our group, guys stepping up at different times and that's all you can ask as a captain. (on slowing down during the middle-overs) It was good bowling. We lost a couple of wickets after the powerplay. Credit to the way their spinners bowled, all four of them, world-class. We were 25 under but we had a total, we tried to fight and that's what we did. (on Phillips' catch) He keeps doing it doesn't he. The powerplay was the best time to bat, Rohit and Gill cashed in, Rohit's innings was outstanding and it put us on the back foot, but we knew the game can change quickly and we kept chipping away at the wickets and stayed in the game. (on Ravindra) We have seen how he steps up in these major events, he has been oustanding with the ball and even GP. He understands his game at such young age and even put the pressure on India early on. It has been enjoyable, made easier by the group and I can't thank the boys enough. We have adjusted to different wickets, so close but it has been a great tournament.
We are ready for the presentations. Aaron Finch brings out the trophy and places it on the middle of the dais. The match officials starting with match referee Ranjan Madugalle walk up to the podium to collect their medals.
Rachin Ravindra | Player of the Tournament: Certainly it is bitter-sweet. We played a good game of cricket. Congratulations to India. It is just that we get to play on good wickets but it is also the work I have done years before. Very proud of my past. Very thankful for everyone who has helped me along the way. I always like to bowl. Santner always gives me a bit of banter that I don't bowl much in the nets. All members of the squad have a part to play, we just go about our business.
Still some time left for the presentation and one sees Kohli being hugged by his wife - Anushka. Rohit is there with his wife and little daughter. Gill with the tricolour wrapped around his shoulders is having a chat with Kane Williamson.
Rohit Sharma | Player of the Match: It is very nice. We played some really good cricket through the tournament, to come out and have the result our way is a great feeling, very happy with how we played this game. It is not natural to me but it is something I really wanted to do, when you are trying something different you need the backing of the team and they were with me, Rahul bhai in the 2023 World Cup and now with Gauti bhai. I have played all these years in a different style, I wanted to see if we can get results by playing differently. Having played here on a few occasions, you understand the nature of the pitch, using the feet is something I have been doing for a while now, I have gotten out as well. But I never wanted to look away from that. It makes it easier and gives you that freedom, that's why I wanted that batting depth, Jadeja coming at 8 gives you that confidence to go hard, if it comes off it comes off. Most important thing is that I am clear in my mind.
Shubman Gill: Felt amazing, for the most part I was sitting back and enjoying Rohit’s batting. We kept talking to each other and the partnership was very important for us. He told me it doesn’t matter how many balls you are behind, just keep looking at the scoreboard and you have to play till the end. Definitely very satisfying, we missed out on the last one playing in 2023. Winning this one is an amazing feeling, winning 8 ODIs back to back starting with the ODIs against England. Watching him (Kohli) on the TV and then against him and seeing the intensity with which he plays is just phenomenal to watch and I think it tells us what the game is all about. Him giving his everything and that’s the only thing he talks about off the field as well. You know, giving your everything when you’re playing on the field and to see him able to back his words like that is phenomenal. They’re very consistent, they come with their plans and execute it with the utmost accuracy. Playing against them is always a challenge. They’re going to give it their all, whether that is in batting, bowling or fielding and we definitely saw that tonight. Wasn’t an easy chase for us and credit to them for the way they come out and play consistent cricket.
Virat Kohli: It's been amazing, we wanted to bounce back after a tough Australian tour, and wanted to win a big tournament, so to win the Champions Trophy is amazing. Lovely playing with a bunch of such amazing youngsters. So much talent in the dressing room, they're taking Indian cricket further in the right direction. We’re happy to share our experience and try and make an impact whenever we get a chance (role of the seniors) but these guys are stepping up in a massive way and that’s why we’re such a strong team. These are the things you look forward to when you’ve played for so long and have had such a long career, you look forward to playing under pressure and you walk in and put your hand up. I think to win titles, which has been missing in the past, the whole team has to step-up in different games. And you can see in this tournament, over the course of five matches, everyone has put their hand up somewhere or the other and that’s why we’ve ended up winning this tournament. People have made such impactful knocks, such impactful spells and it’s only a collective effort which can win you a title. I’m just so happy we were able to play as a unit and enjoy ourselves, we’ve had such an amazing time as a team here - in practice sessions, on the field, off the field - it’s been honestly an amazing amazing tournament for us. As Shubman said, I try to speak to these guys as much as possible, try to share my experience of how I’ve been able to play for so long, try to step in and improve their game wherever I can. It’s only as they rightly say, when you leave, you want to leave the place in a better position and that’s our effort. That’s what we’re striving for and when eventually we’re finally done and whatever stage, we have a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next 8-10 years. And these guys definitely have the talent to do so and the game awareness, they’ve stepped already on so many occasions and played so many impactful innings. This guy (Shubman) and Shreyas have been beautiful, KL (Rahul) has been finishing games, Hardik is a matchwinner so we are in good hands. Amazing (on the New Zealand team), we've always been in awe with what they can do with the limited number of players they’ve had over the years and just maximise their talent to the absolute maximum. Every time you play against them in big games, you know they’re going to come hard and execute their plans. No other team executes their plans as well as they do. Every fielder knows exactly where the bowler is going to bowl and you can sense it when they attack the ball, the bowler is going to be accurate and they know. Credit to them, they’ve probably been the most consistent team over the last few years in big tournaments and the reason for that is their immense belief in their skills and the amount of talent that they have to utlise it to the maximum. They’re easily the best fielding side in the world. Huge shoutout to them, they continue to display why they are one of the best teams in the world, again a great campaign. Sad to see a very good friend of mine to be on the losing side (on Kane Williamson), but I’ve been on the losing side a couple of times when he’s been on the winning side. Nothing but love between us.
Kuldeep Yadav (translated from Hindi): Luckily (didn't have to go out and bat). Credit to KL (Rahul) bhai and Jaddu (Jadeja) bhai for finishing the game. There will be expectations when you are playing well. You get the tag of favourites but I don't believe in that tag. It is easy to say we are playing 4 spinners but it is very difficult to manage four spinners on the field. The way Rohit managed it was outstanding. Because to read the batter, understand which batter will come out in certain situations, who should bowl when.. There is a lot of planning. It is not like it happens in one day. It was a plan since 2-3 days of how and what to bowl. We will party and the entire nation will party as well.
Varun Chakaravarthy: I do have earrings like Shreyas Iyer (on having earrings), I'll get a new one though. It was a sudden inclusion (on being part of the XI from the league match against New Zealand), I didn't expect to turn out like this, a dream come true. The spin was less in the first innings and I had to be disciplined, just stick to the basics.
Shreyas Iyer: Feeling ecstatic, it’s ineffable, hard to put it into words. It’s my first ICC trophy, I’m out of words looking at everyone. The way everyone has performed, it’s been great. To be honest, I love to play under pressure, I feel like I thrive under pressure. I’ve been getting into such situations and it was great to contribute to the win.
Hardik Pandya: it's always amazing to win an ICC tournament, especially the Champions Trophy. 2017 was close to my heart. We couldn't finish the job that time. Pleased with how everyone contributed this time. (On how KL finished the game) Brilliant, calm, composed, took his chances at the right times. I think this is what KL Rahul is. KL Rahul has immense talent, I don't think anyone can hit the ball like he can.
Ravindra Jadeja: My batting number is such that I'm either a hero or a zero at the end of the game. It was important that KL and Hardik did well in that partnership, them scoring runs was a game changing moment. The wicket wasn't easy going into batting at first, it's an important tournament, playing for India and winning the Champions Trophy for the country is big, you do regret when you don't be part of winning teams after having played for so many years. But I'm lucky that I've managed to be fit enough and performed at the highest level in winning the two tournaments, the 2024 T20 WC and the Champions Trophy now.
KL Rahul: I don’t think I can say this on camera but I was shitting myself. We had a couple of batters to come but I was tense. It’s all about keeping yourself calm and composed in situations like this. I think I’ve batted in times like this in 3 out of the 5 games (in this CT) and in one of the games I didn’t get to bat at all against Pakistan. Hard to put it into words, pure skill and the way we’ve all played our cricket growing up, had to face a lot of challenges, we’ve had to face pressure from the time we’ve held a bat and decided to become professional cricketers. The way the BCCI has groomed us and the domestic circuit has trained us to handle pressure and do well in circumstances like these.
Lots of flash interviews happening. We will bring you everything as well as the post-match stuff. Don't go anywhere. Stay tuned.
India's victory celebrations: As soon as Jadeja saw the ball heading towards the fence, he was beginning to celebrate, did not even see O'Rourke who he bumped into inadvertently. Kohli roars and then is hugged by Nayar and Gambhir hugs Kohli. Jadeja was seen blowing kisses in the direction of the Indian dressing room. Rahul had his arms outstretched. Varun, Rana and Arshdeep were the first to run on to the field and hug Jadeja and KL. Gambhir is sporting a smile. Rohit then walks out to the middle with a big smile on his face. The customary handshakes follow between the two teams. Gambhir is lifted by Jadeja while Rohit hugs Shreyas. Rohit and Kohli take a stump each as a souvenir and with big smiles on their faces indulge in some playful Dandiya - a folk dance from Gujarat. They then pose for the cameras who lap up the duo together. Rana, Jadeja and Arshdeep do a jig and perform the Gangnam Style move. India jubilant even as they take their time to console New Zealand.
The game was even-stevens at that stage. New Zealand's spinners were on top and India needed someone to soak up the pressure, and that's what Shreyas Iyer did along with Axar Patel. The duo steadied the chase and kept the scoreboard ticking over. They added a 50+ stand and looked in control when the second drinks break was taken but this is a final and nothing is a given. Iyer played three dots and that got to him as he tried something fancy and perished in the process. Axar as well could not see out Bracewell's spell and fell trying to clear the boundary. New Zealand were back in it but that's where India's depth came to the fore, Rahul was cool and calm at one end, Hardik played a couple of big shots to get India closer and then Jadeja finished it off. The Indian players are being interviewed and we will have them up. Stay tuned as the party has just started..
20:20 Local Time, 16:20 GMT, 21:50 IST: Phew! What a final! It was tense, it was nerve-wracking, it kept swinging from one team to the other and in the end India just had enough ammunition in their tank. Rohit Sharma set the tone for the chase when he pulled the second ball of the innings for a maximum. The skipper was switched on today and he got India off to a flying start. Gill was happy to play second fiddle and together the pair added a 100+ stand. At that stage, it looked like India would canter home comfortably but that was not the case. Glenn Phillips pulled off arguably the catch of the tournament to break the partnership and Bracewell struck soon after to send Kohli back. The squeeze was on and Rohit, who had raced to 76, fell due to that pressure.