India edge out New Zealand to win Champions Trophy

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The best of Rohit Sharma - Indian captain advances down the crease to hit thumping six

Champions Trophy final, Dubai

New Zealand 251-7 (50 overs): Mitchell 63 (101), Bracewell 53 (40); Kuldeep 2-40, Chakravarthy 2-45

India 254-6 (49 overs): Rohit 76 (83); Bracewell 2-28, Santner 2-46

India won by four wickets

Scorecard

India survived a New Zealand fightback to win the Champions Trophy with a four-wicket victory in Dubai.

India, dominant throughout the tournament, made a rampant start in pursuit of 252 only to lose three wickets for 17 runs, including captain Rohit Sharma for 76 and Virat Kohli for one.

Shreyas Iyer followed for 48 and Axar Patel holed out on 29 to leave 49 runs to get from 51 balls.

Hardik Pandya took India closer and, after he fell for 18, KL Rahul finished 34 not out as Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs with an over to spare.

That India always still felt ahead of the game was thanks to their spinners once again impressing by limiting New Zealand to 251-7.

Victory confirms Indias place as the worlds premier white-ball side.

Since being beaten in the final of the 2023 World Cup they have won the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy - a record third time they have won this event.

They were loudly supported by a partisan crowd in Dubai, fireworks erupting into the night sky as the players rushed onto the field at the final moment, but disappointment remained that this final was not played in Lahore, which would have been the case had India not refused to travel to Pakistan.

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Hes bowled him! - Kuldeep dismisses Ravindra for 37 with his first ball

This tournament has flickered without ever catching light - much of the action overshadowed by the debate over the advantages India have had in playing all of their matches in Dubai.

In the end it got a tense finale - at least a finish closer than looked likely for much of the match.

First Indias spinners restricted and then Rohit charged.

India looked on course for a thumping win when Rohit was flogging the New Zealand seamers, with the tournaments leading wicket-taker Matt Henry absent because of injury.

Ultimately, India had to work, as hard as at any point in their unbeaten progression through this tournament, but their depth and quality is such that they were always favourites amid passionate support.

While it does not go all of the way to banishing the pain of the defeat in the final at home in 2023, it provides more silverware for the likes Rohit and Kohli, who may not have continued in the format had they beaten Australia in Ahmedabad.

With the next mens T20 World Cup co-hosted by India in 2026 and a new generation of Indians eagerly awaiting, the question for the rest of the world is: how do they possibly overhaul India?

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What a lovely shot! - Hardik hits Ravindra straight down the ground for six

As has been the case throughout in Dubai, spin was far harder to face than pace.

Chasing a below-par score, Rohit pulled the second ball of the innings for six and dominated a stand of 105 with fellow opener Shubman Gill.

New Zealands fightback was sparked by a stunning one-handed catch by Glenn Phillips - his third such grab of the tournament - at extra cover to dismiss Gill for 31.

Kohli, usually the master of these chases, went lbw to off-spinner Michael Bracewell and Rohit was stumped when advancing to left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra.

The partnership of 61 between Axar and Iyer was important in steadying India, although both fell trying to accelerate. Iyer, having already been dropped, flicked to short fine leg and Axar tamely punted to long-on to give Santner and Bracewell a further wicket each.

However, the required run-rate was always under control. It only ever nudged slightly above a run per ball as Rahul remained calm before Hardik pumped a towering straight six with the winning line in sight.

It was fitting that it was Jadeja, another veteran of this era of Indian white-ball cricket, who flicked the winning runs off his hip. New Zealand fought admirably but this is their fourth defeat in the final of a white-ball event since 2015.

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Phillips produces the most stunning of catches to dismiss Gill