Dubai [UAE], March 9 (ANI): After India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, celebrated Indian batsman Virat Kohli conveyed his joy over the Men in Blue’s success and highlighted the commendable performances of various teammates, notably Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, and Shreyas Iyer, stating that the team is “poised to conquer the globe for the upcoming eight overs.”
"I feel we have a squad that is ready to take on the world for the next 8 years," Kohli said in the post-match ceremony.
India won their third ICC Champions Trophy crown, beating New Zealand by four wickets in an exhilarating finale at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. This triumph makes it India’s consecutive victory in white-ball cricket.
In the final, India saw impressive displays from numerous players, notably Varun Chakravarthy, captain Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul.
During the post-match interview following the game, Virat stated, "It has been incredible; we were determined to recover from our challenging experience during the Australian tour of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Our aim was to clinch victory in a significant competition, thus winning the Champions Trophy is truly remarkable."
There’s such immense talent in the locker room; players are striving to elevate their gameplay. We feel privileged to contribute as senior members by sharing our experiences, which significantly strengthens this Indian squad. Playing for championships, handling pressure, and stepping forward—these are the elements every player embraces. Throughout the tournament, each member has risen to the occasion at some point, delivering crucial performances. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of this remarkable team. After all the hard work during training sessions, winning brings us tremendous joy. As we depart, leaving the team even stronger than before is what matters most.
Virat praised Shubman and Shreyas for their outstanding performances in the tournament, KL for adapting to the finishing role, and Hardik for contributing with the bat as well.
He mentioned that Shubman has been exceptional, Shreyas has delivered impressive performances, KL has sealed victories for the team, and Hardik has been remarkable as a batsmen.
Regarding the New Zealand squad, Virat expressed feeling disheartened that his close companion Kane Williamson, the top New Zealand batsman, was unfortunately on the losing team.
I've always admired their capabilities despite the small number of top-tier players available to them. However, these athletes consistently implement strategies flawlessly and maintain a style of play that ensures they remain highly competitive. Their approach has always been aggressive and supportive towards their bowling lineup. Kudos to them—they undoubtedly boast one of the finest fielding units around. It’s unfortunate to witness my dear friend Kane Williamson on the losing team, yet I must acknowledge their consistent excellence and how diligently they perform even the most fundamental aspects of the game. This is precisely why they stand as such formidable opponents.
New Zealand emerged victorious in the coin toss and chose to bat first.
The Kiwis began impressively with a 57-run partnership between Will Young (15) and Rachin Ravindra (37 from 29 deliveries, including four fours and one six). Nevertheless, Kuldeep Yadav (2/40) disrupted their progress and brought New Zealand down to 75/3.
Between Daryl Mitchell (who scored 63 off 101 deliveries including three boundaries) and Michael Bracewell’s partnership worth 57 runs steered New Zealand toward scoring over 150. Bracewell contributed significantly with an impressive unbeaten knock of 53 from just 40 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes, propelling them to a total of 251/7 after completing their quota of fifty overs.
Kuldeep (2/40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/45) led the wicket-taking efforts for India. Mohammed Shami also claimed a scalp but gave away 74 runs in his nine-over spell.
India began their chase with a strong partnership as captain Rohit Sharma joined forces with Shubman Gill for a valuable 105-run collaboration. Gill scored 31 runs from 50 deliveries, including one six before being dismissed. Despite quick losses of key players like Gill, Virat Kohli, and ultimately Rohit—who made 76 runs from 83 balls featuring seven boundaries and three maximums—leaving India at 122-3; Shreyas Iyer (48 off 62 balls, inclusive of two fours and two sixes), along with Axar Patel (29 off 40 balls, hitting a boundary and a six each) managed to build another significant alliance worth 61 runs.
After surpassing the 200-mark, once Axar was out next up were KL Rahul who finished not-out scoring 34 runs in just 33 balls containing a four and a six, alongside Hardik Pandya’s contribution of 18 runs which helped steer India towards victory comfortably ahead by six wickets even before losing all ten batsmen and with some overs still remaining.
Michael Bracewell (2/28) and Mitchell Santner (2/46) led the bowling efforts for New Zealand with their wickets. (ANI)