Hardik Pandya meets Anushka Sharma [Source: @CrictipsIndia/X.com]
India made history by defeating New Zealand in the final to win the ICC Champions Trophy, ending their long wait for a 50-over ICC title. While India almost won the 2023 ODI World Cup, they lost to Australia in the final. However, they didn’t miss their chance this time, winning the Champions Trophy without losing a single match. The win was celebrated like a festival across India, and the excitement in the Indian team in Dubai was equally high.
Anushka Sharma Joins Team Celebration
Families of the players were present at the Dubai International Stadium to witness this special moment. In a heartwarming moment, Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-rounder, was seen sharing a warm hug with Anushka Sharma, Bollywood actress and wife of Virat Kohli, in a video that went viral.
India Get Their Much-Awaited Third Champions Trophy Title
In the crucial final, New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner decided to bat first. The Black Caps posted 251 for seven in 50 overs, thanks to strong performances from Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53*).
India’s response was led by Rohit Sharma, who played a match-winning knock of 76 runs off 83 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. He also formed a solid 105-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer (48) kept the momentum going through the middle overs, while KL Rahul (34*) remained calm to guide India to victory with an over to spare.
This win marked India’s third Champions Trophy title, following their victories in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly and 2013 under MS Dhoni. Rohit Sharma also became only the second Indian captain after Dhoni to win multiple ICC trophies, having led India to a T20 World Cup title last June.