India vs New Zealand | ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 | Final

The celebrations will go on in their camp until the break of dawn as the Men in Blue bask in the glory of their triumph. The Champions Trophy made its long-awaited return after 8 years, and it sure was an entertaining event. It has left an indelible mark on our memories, and as we bid adieu to the tournament, it's natural to experience withdrawal symptoms. We hope you enjoyed our coverage over the past few weeks as much as we enjoyed bringing everything to you. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

The players of the Indian team are now invited onto the stage to collect their white jackets, a symbol of victory and distinction for the winners of the Champions Trophy. Last but by no means least, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, walks up to wear his jacket. And now, it's time for the final moment. Rohit Sharma accepts the prestigious Champions Trophy from ICC Chairman, Jay Shah. The fireworks light up the night sky as Rohit holds the trophy aloft.

It is now time for the players of the winning team, India, to be called up on stage to collect their medals. Rohit Sharma steps up to collect his medal before walking over to Ian Bishop for a chat. Rohit starts by thanking the crowd for their support throughout the tournament. Says this is not their home ground, and the way the crowd turned up was amazing. Adds that, right from the beginning, their spinners in particular never disappointed. Says they played some really good cricket and acknowledges his bowlers for doing well throughout. On KL Rahul, he calls him the one with a solid and calm mind, the one who never gets bogged under pressure. Says his calm and composed batting under pressure conditions allows the others to play freely, especially for someone like Hardik. On Varun Chakaravarthy, he mentions that he has something very different in him. Says when you are playing on such pitches, you want to have someone like him. Adds that he didn't start but played in the latter matches and got crucial wickets. Says luckily for them, it came to use, and they just wanted to maximise his abilities. On the fans, he again acknowledges them and feels grateful for their support. Says it makes a huge difference when they come out in large numbers to support them.

Next up, the players of the runners-up team, New Zealand, are called up one by one to collect their medals. The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner collects his medal, and he is now in for a chat. Santner acknowledges that they were beaten by a better side on the day, but he couldn’t have asked for more from the group as a captain. Mentions that it was challenging to start, but credits India for their approach. He feels that they were about 20-25 runs short, but the team’s fighting spirit was evident, and he is happy with the effort shown. Santner particularly highlights Rohit Sharma’s performance, saying the first Powerplay was the best time to bat, and Rohit was outstanding during that period. States that captaining New Zealand for the first time in an ICC event was very enjoyable. Adds that his job was made easier by different guys stepping up at different moments, and he can't thank the guys enough for that.

First up, Aaron Finch is invited to place the trophy on the presentation podium. Following that, the match officials step forward to receive their mementoes. The officiating throughout the tournament has been of the highest standard, and these mementoes are a recognition of their efforts.

Rachin Ravindra is the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT for scoring 263 runs, including 2 tons. He says that it's been a great finale and says they played really good cricket. Credits India for being a strong side. On being asked about what makes him such a great player in ICC events, he says he likes to play tournament cricket as there is a common goal to win the trophy and thinks that is what brings the best out of him. Says he is proud of his past and has a lot of people to thank. Admits that it would have been the icing on the cake had they won the trophy but says cricket can be a cruel sport sometimes. Tells that all members of the squad have a part to play, also mentions that there isn't an established player nor a newbie and says they go about their business and play like a team.

Rohit Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his knock of 76 runs off 83 balls which set the tone in the chase. He says they played some really good cricket throughout the tournament and to have the result in their favour feels very nice. Mentions that he gets the backing of the team to try and be different and he got the right support from Rahul Dravid back in the ODI World Cup and from Gautam here. States that having played at this venue, he understands the nature of the pitch and he tries to use his feet and has a clear mindset of how to target the first few overs. Adds that it sometimes gets him out but also gives them results like these. Mentions that he likes having this kind of batting depth, which gives them the confidence to go hard at the new ball up front.