Champions Trophy Final IND VS NZ: India Lift Champions Trophy Title For Record Third Time; 2nd ICC Trophy In A Row

Jadeja hit the winning runs for India, smashing a boundary with a pull shot towards the square leg to seal the victory for India. A third title for them in the competition. And this surely has to be the most comprehensive. They were undefeated all through the tournament and have rarely been challenged at any stage. A second straight ICC title for India. Jadeja, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh break into a Gangnam style dance while Kohli and Rohit do the dandiya dance with the stumps. What a final! It was tense, it was nerve-racking, it kept swinging from one team to the other, and in the end, India just had enough ammunition in their tank. Some of the ghosts of that 2023 World Cup loss might be buried with this victory. Rohit and the rest of the players make their way out to the middle.

Axar Patel has also walked back to the dugout while aiming a big shot against Bracewell. He tried to hit one straight down the ground but was caught at long-off as the fielder stationed there took an easy catch. India are now heading for a run-a-ball chase, and the final is turning out into a nail-biter.

Shreyas Iyer was well-settled on the crease, and he played some brilliant shots. He was heading India towards a successful chase but a mistimed shot popped up in the air, and Rachin Ravindra made a fine catch at fine-leg.

Just when things were going smoothly for the Indian team, they lost the crucial wicket of skipper Rohit Sharma. It looked like Rohit will guide India towards victory, but his dismissal has put India in a tough spot. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel are now rebuilding the innings but the fixture is now heading towards a close contest.

Two quick wickets has put halt in India's smooth chase of 252. They were heading for the target with ease thanks to the opening wicket stand but Kohli was dismissed by Michael Bracewell on just 1 run. He was trapped in front of the pads. Rohit and newly arrived batter at the crease - Shreyas Iyer will now have to steady the innings.

New Zealand need a breakthrough and Glenn Phillips has pulled off a miracle in the field to dismiss Gill and provide the team a much-needed wicket. Shubman Gill hit a well-timed shot to through the cover region but Phillips pulled off a catch out of nowhere. One more time, he has shown unbelievable skills in the field and India lose their opener.

The Indian duo of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma completed a partnership of 100 runs. While Rohit is playing the role of aggressor, Gill is also keeping the scoreboard ticking with his fluent strokeplay. Both of them have given India a platform for a successful chase and the batters to follow will look to capitalise on it.

Rohit Sharma has kept the asking rate in control with his brilliant hitting. The right-handed batter with a single in the 11th over. The 37-year-old is perfectly executing the role of powerplay enforcer and the Men in Blue have started well towards their chase. Also, the duo of Rohit and Gill have registered highest opening stand in the ongoing Champions Trophy edition.

India skipper Rohit Sharma is playing the role of the powerplay aggressor perfectly. He is taking calculated risks and smashed one more big hit against Nathan Smith in the second delivery of the eighth over. He hit one more straight down the ground and followed it up with a scoop one the next ball. This is just the second instance of both teams registering a 50-plus opening stand in an ICC ODI knockout game (World Cup or the Champions Trophy). The first came exactly 29 years ago - March 9, 1996 - in the World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma is once again giving India an attacking start as he unleashed attack on Kyle Jamieson in the first over and then amassed 13 runs in the second over bowled by William ORourke.

New Zealand scored 50 runs off the last 5 overs, thanks to Michael Bracewell's brisk fifty that powered them to a decent 251/7 in their 50 overs. That's when India's spinners came in to seize control. With Ravindra and Williamson at the crease and the scoring rate looking healthy, India desperately needed a breakthrough, and it was Kuldeep Yadav's double blow that put India in the box seat. Then Jadeja and Axar came in to do what they do best; they bowled with excellent control and never allowed the batters to break free. Chakaravarthy struck a decisive blow in the middle as well - removing Glenn Phillips, who was looking dangerous. Mitchell brought up his fifty but took too many balls for the same; it looked like he went in a shell and never managed to come out of it.

Daryl Mitchell has been holding his end up but is very slow in it. He took as many as 91 balls to his fifty. After Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, now Daryl Mitchell gets the slowest fifty of his career. This is also the slowest of the tournament. The previous-slowest also came against India by Jaker Ali in 87 balls. The Indian spinners have been just so accurate that you need to take risks to even manipulate the ball into the gaps. With wickets falling, Mitchell has had to drop anchor. New Zealand 178 for 5 in 42 overs and would want some final flourish from Mitchell and Bracewell to help them get a 240+ run target.

Ravindra Jadeja has been superb once again. Just spinning the ball hard, staying on a good length and aiming for the stumps all the time. He ended the tournament on 41 overs, 179 runs and 5 wickets. He bowled the second most economical spell for India in the ICC tournament finals, leaving out the 1983 ODI World Cup final where a bowler can bowl 12 over maximums. Harbhajan Singh leads the list with figures of 10 overs, 27 runs and 3 wickets, including a maiden against Sri Lanka in the 2002 Champions Trophy.

He will be hoping he is not required in the chase now. New Zealand 172 for 5 in 40 overs.

Daryl Mitchell in ICC knockouts
72*(47) vs ENG, Abu Dhabi, T20 WC 2021 SF
11(8) vs AUS, Dubai, T20 WC 2021 Final
53*(35) vs PAK, Sydney, T20 WC 2022 SF
134 (119) vs IND, Mumbai WS, CWC 2023 SF
49(37) vs SA, Lahore, CT 2025 SF
50*(91) vs IND, Dubai, CT 2025 Final

Yet another big wicket just when New Zealand were looking to up the ante. Phillips fails to read the wrong' un and gets beaten all ends up. The ball sneaks through the big gap between bat and pad, and Varun Chakaravarthy is once again firing up. New Zealand would have been hoping for Phillips to be there till the end and do damage, not to be. Now, it's all in the hands of Mitchell, who would want support from the upcoming all-rounders and bowlers in the likes of Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner. India have done well in controlling the run rate and picking up wickets at regular intervals. However, they were slopping in the field, having dropped as many as four catches so far.

Glenn Phillips broke the 81-ball boundary drought with a six against Kuldeep, lofting him back over his hand and into the sight screen. Phillips does have his fair share of issues against spin; however, so far, after Rachin Ravindra, Phillips is the only man who didn't struggle for timing. He is striking the ball like he has come set from the dressing room, continuing his exceptional form from the semi-final.

Daryl Mitchll here, on the other end, is holding his end up but is a little slow, and he needs to bat till the end as he is adjusted to the pace of the surface, and when compared to the batters to follow, he has a decent against spin.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also joined the party as the Indian spinners are putting the New Zealand batter under pressure. The left-arm spinner bowled a full length delivery to which Tom Latham tried to play a sweep. He was trapped on the pads in front of the stumps and the umpire adjudged him out. New Zealand took a review but the DRS shows three reds and the 32-year-old has walked back to the pavilion.

Although, Kuldeep hasn't been on the wickets tally, he has been impressive today with his line and lengths. Kane Williamson played one straight into the hands of the Kuldeep Yadav and he got caught and bowled. New Zealand will now need to rebuild the innings as they have lost back to back wickets in quick time.

Who were the two biggest batters in the New Zealand lineup? Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson and both are in the dugout now. Kuldeep Yadav, who didn't look in great form, came into the attack after the conclusion of the powerplay and struck on the very first ball of the spell, getting rid of dangerous and in-form Rachin Ravindra with a wrong ' un. It was the perfect length, trapping Ravindra on the crease. It would have been lbw if not bowled off the deflection off the pad. India sensed the kill, and Kuldeep Yadav didn't let his side wait for another scalp, taking the prized scalp of Williamson. Kiwis are now suddenly 73/3 from 57 for none.

India got a much-needed breakthrough, and its none other than Varun Chakravarthy. The leg-spinner has stepped up yet again in the Champions Trophy for India as he bowled a delivery on middle and leg. Will Young tried to play across the line and was trapped in front of the stumps. It's plumb, and so New Zealand doesn't take a review. New Zealand 69 for 1 after the first powerplay. Joint-highest PP score in Dubai in the tournament; India had got exactly 69/1 against Bangladesh in their opening game.

The first three overs of the New Zealand innings were calm as they had scored 10 runs from 18 deliveries. However, Rachin Ravindra started switching gears from the fourth over and he smashed two boundaries and a six to Hardik Pandya. Next, he blasted two fours in the fifth over and has provided New Zealand to an aggressive start.

India have inked yet another unwanted record in the fixture against New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. India have lost 15th toss in a row. They already have a record of losing most tosses in a row. Also, India have lost 12th toss in a row under the leadership for Rohit Sharma.

Speculation is rife on the ODI future of skipper Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli after the Champions Trophy but vice- captain Shubman Gill on Saturday said the Indian dressing room is not discussing retirement of the two modern-day greats.

Kohli and Rohit are still batting strong in the format but it is being discussed in cricketing circles that if India wins the ICC showpiece, both the batters or at least one can call time on his career. "There is no talk about retirement in the dressing room, now," Gill said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand here on Sunday.

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat against India in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday. New Zealand made one change, bringing in Nathan Smith for injured Matt Henry, while India named an unchanged playing eleven. Notably, Henry has been the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 10 wickets.

Here are the squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith, Will O'Rourke.

New Zealand have suffered a massive blow with key pacer Matt Henry ruled out of today's ICC Champions Trophy Final due to injury. Henry hurt his shoulder when completing a catch in the outfield during the Black Caps' 50-run victory over South Africa in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy and hasn't recovered in time for the tournament decider against India in Dubai, the ICC said in one of its posts shortly after the toss on Sunday. He is being replaced by pacer Nathan Smith.

Rohit Sharma has lost his 12th toss on the trot. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has decided to bat first. The pitch is likely to favour spinners, and in all possibility, it is going to be a low-scoring game.

Dubai looks perfect for a day of cricket, and the pitch is likely to aid spinners, which India have in abundance. The toss is going to happen shortly. Rohit Sharma is yet to win a toss in this Champions Trophy and would badly want luck to favour him this time, though Mitchell Santner would also love to call it right.