Mate, I’m still shaking India just won the 2025 Champions Trophy! It’s March 9, 2025, and I’ve spent the day screaming at my screen as we took down New Zealand by 7 wickets in Dubai. The final was unreal, and honestly, it feels like Diwali came early. This is our third time lifting this trophy 2002 with Sri Lanka, 2013 with Dhoni, and now 2025 with Rohit Sharma leading the charge. I’ve got to tell you how it all went down, from the sweaty group games to that sweet, sweet finish. Grab a snack, because I’m about to ramble!
How It All Started: The Tournament Chaos
So, this Champions Trophy was a bit of a mess to start with. It kicked off on February 19, split between Pakistan and the UAE because, well, India wouldn’t play in Pakistan security stuff, you know how it goes. Our games were all in Dubai, while the rest hopped around Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Eight teams, two groups: us, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Group A; then Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in Group B.
Coming off that T20 World Cup win last year, we were pumped, but ODIs are a whole different vibe. The last time we won this was 2013, and after Pakistan got us in the 2017 final, I was itching for some payback. Rohit’s the captain now, Kohli’s still smashing it, and the pressure was on to bring it home. Let’s just say we didn’t disappoint.
Group Stage: Kicking Things Off Right
Our first game was February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, and oh man, we came out swinging. Mohammed Shami was back from that ankle injury and tore through them 5 wickets for 53 runs, unreal! Bangladesh scraped 228, and then Shubman Gill, cool as you like, smashed an unbeaten 101 to chase it down. Six wickets in hand, easy peasy. Rohit hit a milestone too 11,000 ODI runs and I was yelling so loud my neighbors probably hate me now.
Then came the big one: Pakistan on February 23. It’s never just cricket with them, right? They put up 267 Babar Azam’s ton was a pain but Shami and Kuldeep kept it tight. Chasing, we got shaky Rohit out cheap, 43/2 but Kohli, my guy, he just doesn’t quit. He made 100 off the last ball to win it, 6 wickets down. I was jumping around like an idiot, and Twitter was a warzone of “Kohli owns Pakistan” posts. Absolute scenes.
Last group game was New Zealand on March 2. They’re tough Williamson’s a legend but we handled it. Rohit got 76, Gill chipped in, and we set 289. Kuldeep and Axar spun them out for 231. Three wins, top of the group, and I was already dreaming of the trophy.
Semis: Taking Down the Aussies
The semi-final on March 4 was India vs. Australia, and I was nervous as hell. They beat us in the 2023 World Cup final, so this was personal. Aussies batted first, got 264 Steve Smith with 73, Alex Carey whacking 61 late. Shami was gold again, 3/48, and Varun Chakravarthy, that mystery spinner, nabbed 2. Still, 265 to chase felt big.
We started rough Gill and Rohit gone quick, 43/2 and I was biting my nails. But Kohli stepped up with 84, Shreyas Iyer smashed 45, and then Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul turned it on. Rahul hit a six to finish 267/6, 11 balls left, 4 wickets in hand. Australia were toast, Smith retired from ODIs after, and we were in the final. I couldn’t sleep that night, too hyped.
The Final: Smashing New Zealand
So, today March 9 final time, India vs. New Zealand in Dubai. They’d beaten South Africa in the other semi, and after losing to them in the 2019 World Cup semis, I was sweating this one. NZ batted first Rachin Ravindra (77) and Williamson (63) had me worried at 142/1. But Shami got Williamson out, Kuldeep ripped through with two quick ones, and they stumbled. Matt Henry NZ’s bowling star all tournament slogged 22, but they finished at 258, all out in 49.2 overs. Shami had 4/46, Kuldeep 3/52 I was screaming, “Yes, boys!”
Chasing 259, Rohit was a beast 76 off 62, just carving it up. Him and Gill (44) put on 112, and even when Gill got out to Boult, we were cruising. Kohli came in, steady with 52 not out, and Shreyas blasted 38. Henry got Rohit, Ferguson nabbed Shreyas, but it didn’t matter 259/3 in 46.3 overs, 7 wickets left. Kohli hit the winning runs, and I lost my voice cheering. Rohit got Player of the Match, and the crowd went mental. Champs, baby!
The Heroes: Who Stood Tall?
This was a team win, but some guys were unreal. Rohit led like a boss 189 runs, always calm, always clutch. Kohli? 240 runs, that Pakistan 100, just pure class. Shami’s comeback was insane 15 wickets, including 5 against Bangladesh and 4 in the final. Gill’s stepping up big two fifties, a ton future captain material, I reckon. And Kuldeep, with 10 wickets, was our secret weapon, spinning teams dizzy.
Why This Win’s Massive
This is our third Champions Trophy fifth final if you count ‘98 and ‘17 and it’s huge for Rohit. He’s got the T20 World Cup, now this legend status locked. After choking in the 2023 World Cup final, this feels like we’ve shaken that off. ODIs have been called dead lately, but the energy today? Nah, it’s alive and kicking.
The old dogs Rohit, Kohli, Shami might not have tons of time left, but the young guns like Gill and Pant (even if he didn’t play much) are ready. Beating NZ in a final, after they’ve knocked us out before, tastes extra sweet too.
Party Time and What’s Next
It’s just past 2 PM EDT now night in Dubai and the team’s probably still hugging it out. X is exploding BCCI’s shouting “CHAMPIONS,” ICC’s dropping highlights, and fans are spamming Rohit-with-trophy pics. We’re $2.24 million richer, plus a $125,000 bonus for showing up nice little payday.
Next? T20 World Cup 2026 with Sri Lanka, then we host this thing in 2029. This win’s got me believing we’re in for more. Right now, though, I’m hearing firecrackers outside, and I can’t stop grinning. India’s on top, and I’m loving every second of it.
How It All Started: The Tournament Chaos
So, this Champions Trophy was a bit of a mess to start with. It kicked off on February 19, split between Pakistan and the UAE because, well, India wouldn’t play in Pakistan security stuff, you know how it goes. Our games were all in Dubai, while the rest hopped around Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Eight teams, two groups: us, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Group A; then Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in Group B.
Coming off that T20 World Cup win last year, we were pumped, but ODIs are a whole different vibe. The last time we won this was 2013, and after Pakistan got us in the 2017 final, I was itching for some payback. Rohit’s the captain now, Kohli’s still smashing it, and the pressure was on to bring it home. Let’s just say we didn’t disappoint.
Group Stage: Kicking Things Off Right
Our first game was February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, and oh man, we came out swinging. Mohammed Shami was back from that ankle injury and tore through them 5 wickets for 53 runs, unreal! Bangladesh scraped 228, and then Shubman Gill, cool as you like, smashed an unbeaten 101 to chase it down. Six wickets in hand, easy peasy. Rohit hit a milestone too 11,000 ODI runs and I was yelling so loud my neighbors probably hate me now.
Then came the big one: Pakistan on February 23. It’s never just cricket with them, right? They put up 267 Babar Azam’s ton was a pain but Shami and Kuldeep kept it tight. Chasing, we got shaky Rohit out cheap, 43/2 but Kohli, my guy, he just doesn’t quit. He made 100 off the last ball to win it, 6 wickets down. I was jumping around like an idiot, and Twitter was a warzone of “Kohli owns Pakistan” posts. Absolute scenes.
Last group game was New Zealand on March 2. They’re tough Williamson’s a legend but we handled it. Rohit got 76, Gill chipped in, and we set 289. Kuldeep and Axar spun them out for 231. Three wins, top of the group, and I was already dreaming of the trophy.
Semis: Taking Down the Aussies
The semi-final on March 4 was India vs. Australia, and I was nervous as hell. They beat us in the 2023 World Cup final, so this was personal. Aussies batted first, got 264 Steve Smith with 73, Alex Carey whacking 61 late. Shami was gold again, 3/48, and Varun Chakravarthy, that mystery spinner, nabbed 2. Still, 265 to chase felt big.
We started rough Gill and Rohit gone quick, 43/2 and I was biting my nails. But Kohli stepped up with 84, Shreyas Iyer smashed 45, and then Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul turned it on. Rahul hit a six to finish 267/6, 11 balls left, 4 wickets in hand. Australia were toast, Smith retired from ODIs after, and we were in the final. I couldn’t sleep that night, too hyped.
The Final: Smashing New Zealand
So, today March 9 final time, India vs. New Zealand in Dubai. They’d beaten South Africa in the other semi, and after losing to them in the 2019 World Cup semis, I was sweating this one. NZ batted first Rachin Ravindra (77) and Williamson (63) had me worried at 142/1. But Shami got Williamson out, Kuldeep ripped through with two quick ones, and they stumbled. Matt Henry NZ’s bowling star all tournament slogged 22, but they finished at 258, all out in 49.2 overs. Shami had 4/46, Kuldeep 3/52 I was screaming, “Yes, boys!”
Chasing 259, Rohit was a beast 76 off 62, just carving it up. Him and Gill (44) put on 112, and even when Gill got out to Boult, we were cruising. Kohli came in, steady with 52 not out, and Shreyas blasted 38. Henry got Rohit, Ferguson nabbed Shreyas, but it didn’t matter 259/3 in 46.3 overs, 7 wickets left. Kohli hit the winning runs, and I lost my voice cheering. Rohit got Player of the Match, and the crowd went mental. Champs, baby!
The Heroes: Who Stood Tall?
This was a team win, but some guys were unreal. Rohit led like a boss 189 runs, always calm, always clutch. Kohli? 240 runs, that Pakistan 100, just pure class. Shami’s comeback was insane 15 wickets, including 5 against Bangladesh and 4 in the final. Gill’s stepping up big two fifties, a ton future captain material, I reckon. And Kuldeep, with 10 wickets, was our secret weapon, spinning teams dizzy.
Why This Win’s Massive
This is our third Champions Trophy fifth final if you count ‘98 and ‘17 and it’s huge for Rohit. He’s got the T20 World Cup, now this legend status locked. After choking in the 2023 World Cup final, this feels like we’ve shaken that off. ODIs have been called dead lately, but the energy today? Nah, it’s alive and kicking.
The old dogs Rohit, Kohli, Shami might not have tons of time left, but the young guns like Gill and Pant (even if he didn’t play much) are ready. Beating NZ in a final, after they’ve knocked us out before, tastes extra sweet too.
Party Time and What’s Next
It’s just past 2 PM EDT now night in Dubai and the team’s probably still hugging it out. X is exploding BCCI’s shouting “CHAMPIONS,” ICC’s dropping highlights, and fans are spamming Rohit-with-trophy pics. We’re $2.24 million richer, plus a $125,000 bonus for showing up nice little payday.
Next? T20 World Cup 2026 with Sri Lanka, then we host this thing in 2029. This win’s got me believing we’re in for more. Right now, though, I’m hearing firecrackers outside, and I can’t stop grinning. India’s on top, and I’m loving every second of it.
