Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s national cricket team went head-to-head with India, captained by Rohit Sharma, in the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.
The climax of this thrilling tournament took place on Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, marking a memorable showdown between the Black Caps and the Men In Blue.
It’s worth noting: Rohit Sharma praised KL Rahul for his solid mindset after India clinched victory in the CT 2025.
Mitchell Santner’s perspective was clear after the game: “We faced a formidable team that really delivered today.”
New Zealand got off to a strategic start by winning the toss and choosing to bat, setting a target of 251/7—a respectable score under the circumstances. However, defending this total proved challenging. Despite dismissing Rohit Sharma, India’s other batsmen took charge, resulting in a four-wicket defeat for New Zealand.
In the post-match presentation, Santner acknowledged India’s superior performance but expressed pride in his team’s overall display throughout the tournament. “The journey has been rewarding,” he remarked. “We’ve encountered challenges but have grown together, showcasing some excellent cricket. Today’s match was difficult, but many players stepped up throughout, which is all a captain can hope for.”
Reflecting on the game, Santner commented on their middle-over struggles, attributing it to India’s supreme bowling attack, particularly their spinners. “Their spin ensemble was simply world-class,” he noted. “We fell short by about 25 runs, but we aimed to put up a fight and that’s exactly what we did.”
Santner also highlighted the remarkable fielding moments courtesy of Glenn Phillips, while acknowledging Rohit Sharma’s early onslaught as a game-changer. “Phillips is a wonder on the field. The powerplay was prime batting time, and Rohit, along with Gill, took full advantage. Rohit’s knock was a game-setter, although we remained hopeful and kept pushing back with wickets.”
In parting, Santner showered praise on Rachin Ravindra for his spectacular performance in the tournament, expressing gratitude for his team’s efforts. “Ravindra is exceptional, rising to the occasion in key events. His and others’ consistent performances made this tournament rewarding. We’ve adapted well to various conditions, and though we came up just short, it was a commendable run,” he concluded.
Reflecting on New Zealand’s prior encounter with India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, they faced a tough challenge at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 2 but ultimately fell 44 runs short.
Choosing to field first, New Zealand started strong, reducing India to 30/3 and claiming the wickets of key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill early in the game. Matt Henry’s stunning five-wicket haul (5/42), supported by efforts from Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra, restrained India to a score of 249.
In pursuit of 250, New Zealand struggled with consistency at the crease. Early losses of Rachin Ravindra and Will Young hampered momentum, and despite promising starts, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham couldn’t capitalize.
Kane Williamson’s resilient innings of 81 off 120 balls provided a glimmer of hope, but without adequate support, his solitary resistance ended when he was stumped in the 41st over. The lower order crumbled against Varun Chakravarthy’s skillful bowling, as Phillips, Bracewell, and Santner succumbed, leading to New Zealand being all out for 205 in 45.3 overs.
