Champions Trophy Finals Highlights: How Rohit, Rahul, and the Spinners Beat New Zealand

In the Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand, Team India settled a sensational 4-wicket victory to claim their third Champions Trophy title. This blog breaks down this epic clash, shares match highlights and dives into ICC history.

Match Highlights: Key Moments That Defined the Game

Williamson's Masterclass: Kane's 76 off 89 balls was a lesson in composure—until Jadeja trapped him LBW in the 42nd over.

Rohit's Explosive Start: The Indian skipper smashed 3 sixes in his 78, setting the tone with a 112-run opening stand alongside Rahul.

Henry's Fightback: Matt Henry's fiery spell—dismissing Shubman Gill (22) and Rishabh Pant (15)—brought New Zealand roaring back.

Jadeja's Game-Changer: A diving catch to dismiss Devon Conway (34), 3 wickets, and that unbeaten 42—Jaddu was everywhere!

The Winning Runs: Axar Patel flicked Tim Southee for a boundary in the 49th over—cue the celebrations!

How Rohit, Rahul, and the Spinners Beat New Zealand

Rohit Sharma was the tone-setter—his 78 wasn't just runs, it was intent. Facing Trent Boult early on, he lofted a six over mid-off like a practice game, rattling New Zealand's plans.

His 112-run opening stand with KL Rahul was the foundation India needed. Rahul, often under pressure, played the perfect foil—his 54 off 73 balls soaked up the heat, letting Rohit berserk.

Together, they blunted Boult and Southee, forcing New Zealand to rethink their attack.

Then came the spinners—India's secret sauce. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were unplayable on the pitch, offering just enough turn. Jadeja's 3/47 included Williamson's scalp—a dart that skidded to end the Kiwi captain's resistance.

Axar's 1/39 choked the middle overs, dismissing Rachin Ravindra (28) with a beauty that spun past the edge.

Their tight lines starved New Zealand of momentum, and when India batted, their calm under pressure—Jadeja's 42* and Axar's 29*—outsmarted a tiring Kiwi attack.

This was spin wizardry meets batting grit, breaking New Zealand's spirit.

Standout Performances from the 2025 Final

1. Golden Ball Winner: Rohit Sharma snagged Player of the Tournament with 312 runs, capped by that match-defining 78.

2. Jadeja's All-Round Magic: At 36, he's still India's clutch king—3 wickets and 42* in the final!

3. Rohit's Captaincy: He led with swagger and smarts amid retirement whispers.

Champions Trophy Winners Through History

With their victory in 2025, India now joins Australia as the most successful team in Champions Trophy history, with three titles each.

The 2002 edition was particularly unique as it ended with co-champions when the final between India and Sri Lanka couldn't produce a result despite a replay attempt.

T20 World Cup Winners: India's Recent Triumph

India's Champions Trophy victory follows their recent success in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they defeated South Africa by seven runs to claim their second T20 World Cup title, ending an 11-year trophy drought.

This back-to-back success in major ICC tournaments demonstrates India's current dominance in international cricket.

Looking at country-wise success, India now joins the West Indies and England with two T20 World Cup titles each, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia have one title each.

How Many World Cups Has India Won?

1. ODI World Cup: 2 (1983, 2011)

2. T20 World Cup: 2 (2007, 2024)

3. Champions Trophy: 3 (2002, 2013, 2025)

Total: 7 major titles. From Kapil's 1983 heroics to Rohit's 2025 glory, India's got a knack for the big stage!

Looking Ahead: The ICC Calendar

With two major trophies secured quickly, Indian cricket fans are now looking ahead to upcoming ICC tournaments.

What's Next for ICC Tournaments?

1. Next ODI World Cup: 2027 (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia).

2. Next T20 World Cup: 2026 (India & Sri Lanka).

3. Next Champions Trophy: 2029—mark it!

Will Rohit Sharma Retire? The Big Question

Following this magnificent triumph, speculation about captain Rohit Sharma's future in international cricket is mounting.

Having led India to two ICC trophies in 2024-25, there are whispers in cricket circles about whether the 38-year-old might consider this the perfect moment to bow out from at least some game formats.

During the tournament, Rohit scored just 104 runs in four matches before the final, often sacrificing his wicket in pursuit of giving India aggressive starts.

While effective for the team, this approach has affected his statistics. Experts, including Sunil Gavaskar, suggested Rohit reconsidered his approach, indicating concerns about his form.

Will Rohit Sharma announce his retirement from ODI cricket after this perfect ending? The cricket world is abuzz with speculation.

Nothing is confirmed yet, but fans and analysts are making predictions. What do you think? Will Rohit call it a day in ODIs but continue in T20Is, or will he push toward the next World Cup?

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Final Thoughts

The Champions Trophy final was spectacular, with India settling for an exciting victory over New Zealand. Cricket fans have so much to look forward to, from upcoming tournaments to debates about the future of top players.

One big question on everyone's mind is whether Rohit Sharma will retire soon. Think you know the answer? Put your cricket instincts to the test on the Haanaa app. Make your predictions, apply your skills, and turn your prediction insights into real rewards!

Good luck and happy predicting on Haanaa!