India was hailed as the new ICC Champions Trophy title holder. It’s a testament to their skills, efforts, determination, and teamwork. Their path was filled with challenges, showcasing their resilience and commitment. Discover the inspiring story of how they secured the prestigious title and cemented their place in cricket history. 

Group Stage

India vs. Bangladesh

India’s first hurdle in the group stage was Bangladesh. The team’s strong openers posed a challenge, but India overcame the obstacles and dominated Bangladesh, winning by six wickets.

India vs. Pakistan

As longtime rivals, Pakistan went all out, relying on their biggest weapon against India—aggressive fast bowlers. However, India’s experience on the field proved superior, leading to a six-wicket victory.

India vs. New Zealand

New Zealand’s slow start gave India an early advantage, but NZ’s counterattack put IND under pressure. The high-intensity match between the two teams ended with a convincing win for India, who crushed New Zealand by four wickets. 

Semi-finals

India vs. Australia

India started strong, knowing Australia’s team could easily shift the game’s momentum. However, the team’s elite bowlers quickly dismissed India’s openers. Despite their efforts, India’s resilience prevailed, securing a four-wicket victory and a spot in the final round.

Final

India vs. New Zealand

After their previous faceoff in the group stage, India and New Zealand met again—this time for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title. The grand finale has begun, and the coin has favoured New Zealand, which opted to bat first. 

Captain Kane Williamson of New Zealand aimed to set a defendable target, but India’s disciplined bowling attacks put immense pressure on the Kiwi side.

Both teams had delivered exceptional performances throughout the tournament, but India's all-round performance secured them the championship victory. 

Notable players

1. Virat Kohli

His composure and precision during the semi-final match with Australia and the finale with New Zealand were essential to the team’s success. 

2. Rohit Sharma

The captain’s explosive starts boosted India’s morale and gave the team a sturdy foundation for their next attacks. His century against Bangladesh was crucial to their road to victory. 

3. KL Rahul

KL Rahul's batting skill, wicketkeeping ability, and experience make him a crucial asset to the Indian team in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Watch India as they conquer higher heights

Their impressive display of skill got them to where they are today. The well-deserved ICC Champions Trophy title is a fruit of the team’s hard work. From enduring the struggles they faced in the Group Stage to defeating elite teams in both the semi-finals and final rounds, the journey was not easy, but it was worth it for India. 

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India claimed their third ICC Champions Trophy title with a 4-wicket victory over New Zealand in an intense final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill led the chase with a 105-run opening stand. India successfully posted a 254 for 6 in 49 overs.

New Zealand’s competitive start

Batting first, New Zealand posted 251 for 7 in 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell kicked off the innings with 63 runs off 101 balls, while Michael Bracewell provided support with an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls. India’s spinners controlled the game, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy taking two wickets each.

Rohit and Rahul lead India to victory

India started strong during their innings, with Sharma scoring a crucial 76 off 83 balls. His aggressive yet composed performance gave the team a solid foundation. 

After a minor collapse in the middle order, with the Black Caps claiming wickets—including Gill’s and Kohli’s—KL Rahul guided the team’s victory with an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls. 

The chase was completed in 49 overs, securing India’s second straight ICC tournament triumph after the recent Men's T20 World Cup.

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India and Australia played against each other in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy on March 4, 2025. Although Pakistan is the host, India chose to play all its matches in Dubai due to safety worries. 

This choice has sparked talk about whether India has an edge by playing in one place, affecting the lead-up to the knockout stages. The Indian government has blocked the team from going to Pakistan due to security risks in the north near Jammu and Kashmir.

The Champions Trophy relies on India’s funds, so all matches are in Dubai, including the semifinal and final on March 9, 2025, if India makes it. If not, the final will shift to Lahore.

This led to issues with plans and travel for the Champions Trophy. Oddly, Pakistan lost its hosting rights and had to travel to Dubai to play against India, where they lost.

South Africa and Australia flew to Dubai since it was unclear who would face India in the semifinals. Only after India beat New Zealand, South Africa returned to Pakistan to prepare for their match on March 5. Many see this special treatment as giving India a strong advantage.

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After an intense game, New Zealand came out on top as they defeated Bangladesh on Monday, February 24, 2025. The team will now advance to the semi-finals of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

The scores tallied are as follows: New Zealand 240 for 5 and Bangladesh 236 for 9. NZ won by five wickets. 

NZ’s Rachin Ravindra scored 112 runs and Tom Latham did 55 runs, giving the team a massive boost. Bangladesh’s Shanto managed to score 77 runs making the captain the top scorer for his team. 

Fans were overjoyed and the stadium was filled with cheers, shouts, and chants in support of their favourite teams. 

Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana gave hope to Bangladesh with a good opening. Despite the team’s efforts and Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s powerful runs, the team still failed to secure a win. With this defeat, both Bangladesh and Pakistan are now eliminated in the Champions Trophy.

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Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, its first major cricket tournament in almost 30 years. The event starts in Karachi, where Pakistan will face New Zealand. 

This is a great moment as Pakistan has not hosted a top ICC event since 2009. That year, an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore led to teams avoiding tours in the country. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq noted that Pakistan suffered for years as cricket moved away.

Cricket comes home in Pakistan

For a long time, Pakistan had to play 'home' games in the UAE. Now, fans can watch big matches in their stadiums. Former captain Aamer Sohail said the crowd’s energy was strong during a warm-up match against South Africa. 

However, India will not play in Pakistan due to political issues. If India and Pakistan meet in the final, the match will be in Dubai. Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that India-Pakistan matches go beyond just cricket, they are fueled with expectations and emotions. 

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Pakistan is set to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9, 2025 marking its first major cricket tournament since 1996. This event is seen as an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its passion for cricket and its ability to host global events despite political challenges.

This year’s Champions Trophy will feature the top eight ODI teams from the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The teams will face each other in a group stage and knockout format across venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched ample preparations, starting with National Stadium’s renovations in Karachi. It features an increased seating capacity and enhanced facilities to house the influx of global fans.

‘The return of global cricket is not just about hosting matches. It is about restoring pride...and giving back to [those] who stood by Pakistan cricket�? said PCB Chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister and security chief, Mohsin Naqvi.

Champions Trophy structure

Despite the growing excitement for the event, geopolitical tensions have impacted this year’s game structure. Due to an ongoing political dispute, India has opted to play its matches in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai as the host. 

This change has become a topic of discussion for India accuses the host country to be supporting militant groups. However, the PCB denied and worded that sports should transcend politics. Still, the Indian government expressed aversion to sending their team across the host country’s borders.

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi expressed disappointment over India’s absence from Pakistan. He noted that hosting India for this event would be a monumental achievement for the country. ‘I think that will be the big breakthrough�? he remarked.

Pakistan on security measures

In light of security concerns, mainly after the 2009 bus attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, Pakistan has ensured the teams and global council of everyone's safety for this event.

Over 20,000 troops will be deployed along key routes. Stadiums, airports, and hotels will also be guarded to ease concerns and provide secure conditions for the tournament. Additionally, around 10,000 AI-powered facial recognition cameras have been installed across the host cities.

As the opening match approaches, Pakistan stays hopeful for this moment in its cricketing history. Successfully hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 would not only restore its reputation as a safe venue for global-scale sports events but also serve as proof of its commitment to fostering unity through sports.

Tickets for the opening match and other fixtures can be purchased through the official ICC website. For fans unable to attend in person, live broadcasts and updates will be available on various platforms; details for other regions can be found on the ICC’s official broadcasters page.

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