The Impressive TimesDubai, Mar 10, 2025: Cricketing legend Virat Kohli has lauded his teammates for their invaluable contributions at crucial moments throughout India’s victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
In the final, Rohit Sharma led from the front with a stellar performance. In the semi-final, it was Kohli’s heroics with the bat and Mohammed Shami’s brilliance with the ball that made the difference.
India secured five consecutive wins to clinch the prestigious title, with multiple players stepping up in each match. Their collective efforts ensured another major ICC trophy for the team.
Kohli’s exploits in Dubai were pivotal, including his unbeaten century against Pakistan and a crucial 84 off 98 balls against Australia, guiding India into the final showdown.
“To win titles, which has eluded us in the past, the entire team must deliver in different games,” Kohli said after India’s memorable final victory over New Zealand.
“If you look at this tournament, over five matches, everyone has contributed at some point,” he added.
“These are the moments you cherish after playing for so long—being tested under pressure, stepping up, and making an impact,” Kohli emphasized.
After Rohit Sharma capitalized on the new ball, Shreyas Iyer provided a vital contribution, steering India towards the Black Caps’ total of 251. Shreyas scored a crucial 48 runs in the middle overs on a slow Dubai pitch, allowing KL Rahul to finish the game with an over to spare.
“That’s the reason we won this tournament,” Kohli continued. “Players have delivered impactful knocks and match-winning spells. Only a collective effort can secure a title. I’m just so happy we played as a unit and enjoyed every moment. It has been an incredible tournament for us,” he said.
Kohli believes India’s future is bright, predicting a sustained period of dominance in the coming years.
“We have a squad capable of ruling world cricket for the next eight to ten years. These players have immense talent and have already stepped up,” Kohli said. “Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya have all proven themselves as match-winners. We are in safe hands.”
One of India’s standout stories in the tournament was the emergence of Varun Chakaravarthy. Making his tournament debut in the group stage, he took 5/42 against New Zealand and played a key role in the knockout rounds, finishing with nine wickets in three games.
Chakaravarthy’s performance, alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, ensured India’s spin attack suffocated opponents match after match.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged India’s superior bowling attack. “They bowled really well. We lost wickets after the powerplay, and their spinners applied immense pressure. All four of them are world-class, and they showed that today,” Santner admitted.
India’s victory marks back-to-back ICC titles after their T20 World Cup triumph last year, positioning them as the team to beat heading into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2028 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
With their recent dominance, Indian players are eager to maintain momentum and continue their winning streak in upcoming tournaments.
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