Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Team India for their victory in the ICC Champions Trophy final, as the Rohit Sharma-led team won a four-wicket win against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Posting on X, PM Modi said, "An outstanding game and an outstanding win! Proud of our cricket team for the ICC Champions Trophy. They've played incredibly throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our team for the brilliant all-around performance.
In the high-pressure final, captain Rohit Sharma set the tone with a brilliant 76, while supporting acts from Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya ensured India won its third Champions Trophy title.
Pursuing a target of 252 on a comparatively facile surface, India once appeared to be on easy Street to a straightforward victory. However, the stubborn bowling from New Zealand guaranteed that the pursuit of the target wasn't smooth. The level of tension escalated after Rohit walked off with an elegant 76 off 83 balls, for a while distracting India's stride. But notwithstanding the excellent depth in batting with the team combined with clinical finishing, the Indians crossed the boundary with an over to spare.
Iyer's 48 off 62 balls and Rahul's consistent, unbeaten 34 off 33 balls were instrumental in clinching the victory. With this victory, India claimed its third Champions Trophy title, following its earlier victories in 2002 and 2013, and became the most successful team in the history of the tournament. The charged atmosphere in the stadium, which was largely composed of Indian fans, made the moment even more magical.
This win is one of redemption for Team India and its ardent fans, after the heartbreak of falling short of the 2023 ODI World Cup title on home ground. New Zealand had registered a gritty 251/7 off 50 overs in the morning session, courtesy contrasting half-centuries by all-rounders Daryl Mitchell (63 off 101 balls) and Michael Bracewell (53 not out off 40 balls).
India's bowlers ruled the day on a slow pitch, claiming five wickets in total. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy claimed two wickets apiece, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed a vital breakthrough as well, setting the stage for India's one-sided performance.
After an unbeaten spell throughout the tournament, India started its tournament by overpowering its first game against Bangladesh and then thrashing arch-rival Pakistan. India defeated New Zealand in its last group match to lead the points table before dominating Australia in the semi-final to win its championship history.
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