India secured their third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai. Here’s how the Indian team members reacted to their win.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate India’s Champions Trophy victory.
India clinched the Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. Here’s what the Indian players had to say after their triumph.
KL Rahul: ‘I can’t really say it on camera, but I was extremely nervous towards the end. However, knowing we still had capable batsmen to come, I was confident we could win. In crucial moments like these, especially in big games, it’s all about keeping calm, which is something we all know. It’s challenging, but I’m really happy we won and got the job done this time. I’ve had to bat under pressure in most of our games, which has been good preparation for moments like this.’
‘This tournament has given me valuable time in the middle to prepare for big moments. It’s hard to describe, but it comes down to pure skill and how we’ve developed our cricket from a young age. We’ve faced numerous challenges and pressure since we started playing cricket professionally. The credit goes to first-class cricket and the BCCI for nurturing talent, providing opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills, and pushing us to improve under pressure.’
Hardik Pandya: ‘Winning an ICC event, especially the Champions Trophy, is always incredible. I remember 2017 vividly, and we couldn’t finish it then. But I’m very happy with our performance throughout this tournament and how everyone contributed. It was fantastic. KL Rahul played brilliantly, staying calm and composed and choosing the right moments to take risks. That’s the KL Rahul we know – immensely talented, with incredible ball-striking ability. He showed that today.’
Varun Chakravarthy: ‘Being a late addition to the team, I didn’t expect this outcome, it’s a dream come true. It was good to play, as there wasn’t much spin in the first innings, so we focused on disciplined bowling and hitting the stumps.’
Shreyas Iyer: ‘I’m ecstatic, truly speechless. It’s my first ICC trophy, and I’m overwhelmed. Looking at everyone in the dressing room and how we’ve performed throughout the tournament, it’s been magnificent. I love being under pressure and thrive in challenging situations. I’ve been getting good starts in the tournament but haven’t converted them into big scores. However, contributing to a team victory is immensely satisfying, and I’m very happy.’
Shubman Gill: ‘It felt amazing. I mostly enjoyed Rohit’s batting from the other end, but we kept communicating, and that opening partnership was crucial for us. It’s very satisfying, especially after missing out in 2023. Winning this is surreal, continuing our winning streak from the ODI series in England. Watching Virat Kohli on TV as a kid and now playing with him, seeing his intensity is phenomenal. He gives everything to the game, and that’s what he preaches – to give your all on the field. He truly lives by his words, which is phenomenal.’
Ravindra Jadeja: ‘With my batting position, I often become either a hero or nothing when finishing games for India. Hardik and KL built a crucial partnership in the last ten overs because the wicket wasn’t easy for new batsmen, and their partnership shifted the game’s momentum. This win means a lot to India. Being part of this team, it would be disappointing not to win major tournaments after playing for so long. Luckily, in the last two years, we’ve won the T20 World Cup and now the Champions Trophy, which is great for Indian cricket.’
Kuldeep Yadav: ‘Luckily, I didn’t have to bat! Credit to KL and Jaddu for finishing the game. There are always high expectations when you perform well and enter tournaments as favourites, although I don’t believe in the favourites tag. We’ve played consistently well for years, and I dedicate this win to the fans, who have huge expectations. Our performance in this tournament has been terrific. It’s challenging to manage four spinners, and Rohit captained brilliantly, reading the game and batsmen’s situations to decide when to bowl whom. The planning was there, based on their batting lineup, and it worked perfectly. A big celebration is coming, and all of India will celebrate today.’
