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The year 2025 etched itself into Indian cricket folklore as the Men in Blue lifted their third ICC Champions Trophy, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a nerve-jangling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9. For a team still carrying the scars of the heartbreaking 2023 ODI World Cup final loss to Australia, this was redemption at its sweetest—a long-awaited ICC ODI title that restored belief and pride.
Captain Rohit Sharma set the tone with a brilliant 76 off 83 balls, anchoring the chase with calm authority. Shreyas Iyer’s handy 48 and KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 added crucial support, while Ravindra Jadeja’s composure in the dying overs ensured India crossed the line with one over to spare. It was a victory that meant more than numbers—it was about resilience, healing old wounds, and proving once again that India thrives on the big stage.
Rishabh Pant captures unfiltered joy after Champions Trophy 2025 triumph
Months after the win, India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15 brought fans an unexpected treat from Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper-batter released rare behind-the-scenes footage capturing the raw emotions inside the dressing room moments after India sealed the trophy. Shot on Pant’s own handheld device, the video offered a glimpse of the side fans never get to see—cricketers not as icons but as teammates overwhelmed by pure joy.
Rohit, normally the picture of composure, was seen leaping with delight before rushing to hug his players. Shubman Gill erupted in ecstatic celebration, while Mohammed Shami, Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya joined in the raucous cheers. The highlight came when Rohit, with his trademark humor, quipped to Pant, “What? Should I retire every time we win?”—a line that sent the room into laughter and perfectly captured the team’s camaraderie. It was more than a celebration; it was a rare, unguarded peek into the heart of Indian cricket.
Here’s the video:
Happy Independence Day, India. 🇮🇳
Some moments stay with you forever and winning for India is at the top of the list. Proud to be Indian.#RP17 📷🕶️ pic.twitter.com/pfgr1tg7da— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) August 15, 2025
Pant’s Independence Day tribute for Indian cricket fans
Pant’s decision to share the footage on Independence Day added another layer of emotion. Alongside the video, he wrote: “Happy Independence Day, India. Some moments stay with you forever, and winning for India is at the top of the list. Proud to be Indian.”
This win wasn’t merely about lifting a trophy. It cemented India’s dominance in world cricket—23 wins out of 24 matches across the last three ICC tournaments since 2023 is a staggering record by any measure. The final itself was a team effort: New Zealand had posted a fighting 251/7, but India’s spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, applied the brakes in the middle overs to keep the target in reach. In the chase, while Rohit laid the platform, it was Rahul and Jadeja’s ice-cool nerves that sealed the moment of destiny.
Undefeated throughout the tournament, India repeated the history to win the Champions Trophy without dropping a single game. Twelve years after their 2013 triumph, the Men in Blue had not only reclaimed the crown but also gifted the nation a cricketing memory that will live forever.
