The Nepal Weekly 
March 11, 2025
India has won global ICC cricket tournament with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. India achieved the target of 252 runs set by New Zealand in the 49th over, losing 6 wickets. Rohit Sharma led the chase with 76 off 83 balls and Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 34 helped India cross the finish line on 254-6 in 49 overs to win the Champions Trophy for the third time.
Half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell earlier helped New Zealand, which won the toss and chose to bat first, put on 251-7 in its 50 overs on a slow, two-paced Dubai wicket. Sharma provided a fiery start to India’s innings, hitting seven fours and three sixes. Hardik Pandya scored 18, putting on a crucial 38 runs off 36 balls for the sixth wicket with Rahul.
This is the third Champions Trophy title won by India. Previously, India had won the title jointly with Sri Lanka in 2002 and in 2013.India won the T-20 World Cup final against South Africa last year.
Both sides have previously won this tournament. India’s previous success came in 2013 and it was runner-up to Pakistan in 2017. It also shared the trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 after a rain-affected two-day final. New Zealand won the Champions Trophy in 2000 – it beat India in the final at Nairobi, Kenya. It remains the only limited-overs ICC trophy in the Black Caps’ cabinet.
