Team India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, KL Rahul, opened up about his emotions as India closed in on winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India triumphed over New Zealand by 4 wickets to secure the prestigious title for the third time.
In his post-match comments, Rahul admitted, “I don’t think I can say this on camera, but I was really nervous. We still had a couple of batters to come, but I was feeling the tension. In moments like this, it’s all about keeping yourself calm and composed. I’ve been in situations like this in 3 out of the 5 games in this Champions Trophy, and in one of the games, I didn’t even get a chance to bat against Pakistan.
He added, "It’s hard to put into words—what you need is pure skill, but it’s also about the way we’ve all grown up playing cricket. We’ve faced many challenges along the way. From the moment we first held a bat and decided to become professional cricketers, we’ve had to handle pressure. The support and grooming from the BCCI, as well as the training we get from the domestic circuit, have prepared us to manage pressure and perform in such high-stakes situations.”
Kl Rahul in broadcast: i shouldn't say it on tv, i was shitting myself
— Firestar salmon (@Firestarsalmon) March 9, 2025
We all were @klrahul
Team India wins third ICC Champions Trophy
Team India became the first team to win three ICC Champions Trophy after beating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the final on Sunday in Dubai. Rohit Sharma played a sublime knock of 76 runs with Shreyas Iyer chipping in with a crucial knock of 48 runs in the winning cause.
Having Restricted New Zealand to 251 runs, India was off to flying start in their chase of 252 runs. Rohit Sharma led the charge, smashing a quick-fire half-century off just 41 balls, while his opening partner, Shubman Gill, enjoyed a bit of luck after being dropped at mid-wicket.By the 17th over, India had already crossed the 100-run mark without losing a single wicket. However, New Zealand made their breakthrough in the 19th over, as Glenn Phillips pulled off a stunning flying catch to dismiss Gill.
The Kiwis struck again immediately, with Michael Bracewell removing the dangerous Virat Kohli for just a solitary run in the very next over.The momentum continued to shift in New Zealand's favor when Mitchell Santner dismissed the well-set batter, adding further pressure on India. With the game swinging unpredictably, the pressure of dot balls eventually forced Rohit Sharma to fall for 76 off 83 balls.
New Zealand’s bowlers kept applying the squeeze on India's scoring rate, taking quick wickets. Despite the setbacks, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel began to steady the ship, focusing on rotating the strike and occasionally finding the boundary. Their partnership grew to 61 runs, but Santner returned to break the stand, sending Iyer back for 48.
KL Rahul soaked the pressure and along with Hardik Pandya brought Team India closer to victory. Hardik's dismissal brought Jadeja to the crease. The left hander finished the match with a boundary.