India beat New Zealand, emerge winners of Champions Trophy

Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front as India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.

India began brilliantly in pursuit of a target of 252 but had to fight for their third title in the event till the end, getting across the finish line with an over to spare.

Rohit top-scored with 76, adding 105 for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill. But the Kiwis bounced back with three quick strikes before Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel steadied the ship. The duo added 61 for the fourth wicket before Iyer fell, playing too early on a Santner delivery immediately after clearing the New Zealand skipper for a six.

But there was just too much depth in India's batting for New Zealand to even dream of a late turnaround as K L Rahul and Hardik Pandya got India closer to the title. Pandya fell for 18, but Rahul remained unbeaten on 34 to steer India to victory.

Earlier, India dropped at least four catches, with captain Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Shami giving New Zealand batters multiple reprieves. But thanks to the spinners, India managed to restrict the Kiwis to a modest total of 251/7.

Dary Mitchell's patient 101-ball 63 was the highlight of the New Zealand innings, while Michael Bracewell played an unbeaten 40-ball 53. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets each as India made most of the conditions in Dubai.

Openers Rachin Ravindra and Will Young added 57/0 from the first seven overs, but the introduction of spin turned the match in India's favour.

Young was the first to fall, trapped leg before by India's mystery spinner Varun. Kuldeep, who dropped Rachin Ravindra in the deep, made amends by castling the aggressive opener for 37. Kuldeep then removed Kane Williamson.

Mitchell and Glenn Phillips stitched up a 57-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Varun returned to break it by dismissing Phillips before Bracewell got them past 250.

India were unchanged from their semifinal win over Australia. Injured pacer Matt Henry is the only change in the New Zealand XI from their semifinal victory over South Africa. All-rounder Nathan Smith has found a place in the New Zealand XI.

Brief scores: New Zealand 251/7 in 50 overs (Mitchell 63, Bracewell 53 not out, Ravindra 37, Phillips 34, Kuldeep 2/40, Chakravarthy 2/45) lost to India 254/6 in 49 overs (Rohit Sharma 76, Shreyas Iyer 48, KL Rahul 34 not out, Shubman Gill 31, Bracewell 2/28, Santner 2/46)