Rohit Sharma praised his team’s collective effort, the depth of the batting order, and the spinners’ crucial role throughout the tournament after India secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma’s explosive 76 guided India to a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The victory secured India’s place as the most successful team in the history of the tournament, marking their second Champions Trophy title since 2013.
Sharma, named Player of the Match, played a pivotal role in India’s successful chase of 252, which they completed with one over to spare.
Reflecting on the win, the Indian captain said, “To have the result our way is a great feeling,” emphasizing the satisfaction of finally securing a win after multiple past disappointments in knockout stages.
The 37-year-old also credited his aggressive approach with the backing of the team and management, explaining that it was a conscious shift from his usual style.
“It wasn’t natural to me, but something I really wanted to do. When you’re doing something different, you have to have the backing of the team,” said Sharma, acknowledging the support from Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir.
Rohit also praised India’s depth in batting and their spinners, who played a critical role in the tournament. “The depth gives me the freedom, and with Jadeja coming in at No. 8, it gives you the confidence to go hard up front,” he said. India’s four-pronged spin attack, particularly Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja, proved to be a key factor in their success.
The Indian captain also lauded the Dubai crowd for their support, saying, “The crowd has been amazing. It may not be our home ground, but they made it feel like our home ground.”
KL Rahul’s calm composure under pressure also drew praise from Rohit, who highlighted his crucial finish in the final. “He never gets overawed by the pressure around him. That’s why we wanted him in the middle phase,” he added. Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul in the semifinal was also instrumental in India’s progress, with Rohit noting, “He has something different about him, and we wanted to maximize that.”
While India celebrated, New Zealand’s skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged India’s superiority. “We lost to a better side today. Credit to their spinners, they bowled world-class deliveries,” Santner said.
He also reflected on New Zealand’s performance, admitting that they were “20 or 25 runs short” of what they had hoped for, but praised Rohit and Shubman Gill’s strong start.
Rachin Ravindra, who was named Player of the Tournament for his 263 runs and three wickets, expressed both pride and disappointment after New Zealand’s loss.
“It’s a bitter-sweet feeling. The individual accolades are great, but playing for the team is what matters most. Cricket is a cruel game,” said Ravindra.
He credited the collective effort of his team, saying, “All members of the squad have a part to play. We go about our business and play like a team.”