India's players celebrate after winning the ICC Champions Trophy final cricket match against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri India's players celebrate after winning the ICC Champions Trophy final cricket match against New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri

They came, they saw and they conquered. India lived up to its billing of pre-tournament favourites and overcame a stiff challenge from New Zealand in the final to lift their third ICC Champions Trophy title in Dubai on Sunday. The Indian spin quartet were again the heroes with the ball stifling the Kiwi batters in the middle overs. Skipper, Rohit Sharma then led from the front and gave India a rollicking start in the powerplay which laid the foundation for a memorable chase. (Match Highlights | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)

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From Rohit’s aggressive template to Shreyas Iyer’ play against spin, from the continuous rise of Varun Chakravarthy to the cool and calm temperament of KL Rahul – we look at a few numbers which defined India’s victorious campaign at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

India lift 7th ICC World trophy

India clinched their seventh ICC title in Dubai on Sunday making them the second-most successful team wrt ICC world events after Australia. India had previously won the Champions Trophy twice – they were joint-winners with hosts Sri Lanka in 2002 before demolishing England in the latter’s own backyard in 2013. They have won the 50-over World Cup twice – in 1983 and 2011 and have also been victorious at the T20 World Cup on as many occasions - in the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2007 and last year in the Caribbean/USA.

Australia is the only team in the world which has won more ICC world titles than India – they have lifted six World Cups, two Champions Trophies and been victorious in one edition of the T20 World Cup and World Test Championship each – that is a total of 10 ICC senior men’s tournaments.India – the most lethal spin bowling unit

India’s new spin quartet exploited the favourable conditions in Dubai brilliantly and combined to take 26 wickets – the most for any spin unit in the tournament. They had the best average (28.38),66br strike rate (37.7) and economy (4.51) in the tournament. In the two games against New Zealand, India’s spinners collectively bagged 14 wickets at 22.1 apiece at an economy of 4.1! In contrast, India’s pacers managed to pick just two wickets at an average of 70.5 and economy of 7.05 in these two encounters.

Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the Indian spinners with nine wickets at 15.1 apiece at an economy of 4.5. Six of his nine dismissals were of the top 6 opposition batters. He picked up a couple of crucial wickets in the powerplay where he conceded just 33 runs off 30 deliveries in the tournament.

Kuldeep Yadav Foxes Kane Williamson In Flight To Get Caught And Bowled - Watch

BY Outlook Sports Desk

Kuldeep Yadav was the highest impact bowler in the final changing the match on its head with his twin blows of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in successive overs. Jadeja and Patel were phenomenally restrictive bowling a tight line and length and had a combined economy of 4.35 in the tournament.

Interestingly, it was New Zealand who were the second-best spin bowling unit of the tournament with the second-best bowling average and strike rate. Mitchell Santner was exceptional in the middle overs and returned with nine wickets at an average of 26.7 and economy of 4.8! Off-spinner, Michael Bracewell was the real surprise package though with eight wickets at 25.12 apiece at an economy of 4.1. He delivered a stunning 174 dot balls – the most for any bowler in the tournament!Rohit’s aggressive template

The complaint was lodged by Adarsh R Iyer, Co-President of 'Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath' (JSP) alleging that the accused "committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefitted to the tune of 8,000 and more crore of rupees."

India Vs New Zealand: Rohit Sharma Throws Away Brilliant Start To Leave Final In Balance

BY Outlook Sports Desk

Rohit Sharma’s attacking stroke-play in the powerplay was one of the major reasons for India’s success in the tournament. The Indian skipper led from the front and focussed on maximizing his team’s runs in the first 10 overs – as opposed to his own batting average – taking calculated risks especially against the opposition fast bowlers. It was his 76 off 83 deliveries which gave India the impetus at the start in the run-chase in the final before the New Zealand spinners tightened the screws in the middle overs. Rohit hammered 153 runs off just 137 deliveries at a rate of 111.7 in the powerplay in the tournament and eased the pressure on the middle-order.

Shreyas’ magical consistency

IND Vs NZ, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Five Talking Points From India's Win Over New Zealand In Dubai

BY Jagdish Yadav

Shreyas Iyer was India’s batter of the tournament. He did not score big runs but made invaluable contributions in almost every encounter scoring tough runs under pressure. Iyer was the second-highest run-getter of the tournament with 243 runs in five innings which included two half-centuries.Iyer partnered with Virat Kohli and put together a match-defining 114-run stand for the third-wicket with Pakistan. He came out to bat at 22/2 which worsened to 30/3 against New Zealand and top-scored for India with a fluent 79 off 98 deliveries on a difficult wicket – his knock was pivotal in taking India close to 250 which ultimately turned out to be a match-winning total. Iyer absorbed the pressure of early wickets in the semi-final against Australia, once again combining with Kohli for a critical 91-run stand for the third-wicket.

And last but not the least, Iyer weathered the storm and added calm to the proceedings in the middle overs keeping the New Zealand spinners at bay in the final. His 48 off 62 deliveries took India to a position of safety from where they controlled the match and eventually went on to lift the title.

KL Rahul – Mr Cool

KL Rahul produced three high-impact performances with the bat under high-pressure in the tournamentipl365, showcasing a calm head and excellent temperament. He came out to bat at a tricky 144/4 against Bangladesh and put together a match-winning unbeaten stand of 87 with Shubman Gill. Rahul then eased tensions with a classy undefeated 42 off just 34 deliveries in the semi-final against Australia. He reserved his best for the last. In a tense final, Rahul walked out to bat at 183 for 4 and held his nerve scoring an unbeaten 34 off 33 deliveries taking India through to a memorable four-wicket win with an over to spare.