As his teammates celebrated India’s triumph in the Champions Trophy on Sunday, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recalled the heartbreak of the 2017 edition, where India lost to arch-rivals Pakistan in the final in England. Hardik, who played a pivotal role in India’s victory this time, shared his feelings with the official broadcaster: "It’s always amazing to win an ICC event. I remember 2017 very closely; we couldn’t finish it then. I’m very pleased to have done it here."
In the 2017 final, Hardik had been India’s lone warrior, scoring a blistering 76 off 43 balls, but his efforts weren’t enough to prevent a heavy defeat. This time, India chased down New Zealand’s target of 252 with four wickets and six balls to spare, clinching their third Champions Trophy title after 2002 and 2013.
Hardik also praised KL Rahul, who played a crucial unbeaten knock of 34 in the final. "KL was calm and took his chances at the right moment. He has immense talent; no one times the ball as well as he does," Hardik said. Rahul anchored the chase after India found themselves at 203/5 in the 42nd over. Reflecting on his role, Rahul said, "I was as confident as I could be that I would get the job done. Keeping composure is all that matters, and I’m happy to have done it this time. I’ve batted in such situations in three out of the five games."
Rahul also credited the team’s upbringing and grooming by the BCCI for their success. "It’s hard to put into words, but the team has pure skill. The way we’ve played cricket growing up, we’ve faced pressure from the time we became professional cricketers. The BCCI has groomed all of us, and we’ve constantly challenged ourselves to improve," he added.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who emerged as Rohit Sharma’s trump card with nine wickets in three matches, described the victory as a dream come true. "It was a sudden inclusion (being part of the XI from the league match against New Zealand). I didn’t expect it to turn out like this. It’s a dream come true. The pitch offered less spin in the first innings, so I had to stay disciplined and stick to the basics," Varun said.
India’s dominance in the tournament was evident as they clinched the trophy without losing a single match. Opener Shubman Gill, who started the tournament with a century against Bangladesh, expressed his admiration for skipper Rohit Sharma’s free-flowing batting. "It felt amazing. For most of the time, I sat back and enjoyed Rohit’s batting. He told me it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard shows; the aim was to bat till the end. We missed out in 2023, so it’s great to win eight ODIs back-to-back," Gill said. He also praised New Zealand’s consistency, saying, "They execute their plans accurately and give it their all. They showed that tonight."
Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has experienced both triumphs and heartbreaks, expressed his delight at the victory. "That’s how it is with me; sometimes a hero, sometimes a zero. The wicket wasn’t easy for a new batter. Hardik and KL were brilliant. Winning the Champions Trophy is a huge thing. If you don’t win a big tournament after playing for so long, it hurts," said Jadeja, who hit the winning runs.
Shreyas Iyer, who lent solidity to the middle order with his calculated batting, celebrated his maiden ICC tournament win. "I’m feeling ecstatic. This is my first ICC trophy, and I’m kind of overwhelmed looking at everyone in the dressing room. I love to go under pressure; I thrive in it. I couldn’t get a big score in the final, but it’s immensely satisfying to contribute to the win. These are my lucky earrings; they’ll stay on," Iyer said.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who turned the game in India’s favor by dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession, highlighted the challenge of managing four spinners in the playing XI. "It’s easy to say we have four spinners in the team, but it’s very tough to manage them. There was a lot of planning, and all credit goes to Rohit bhai. Big party tonight," Kuldeep said. He added, "Luckily, my batting wasn’t needed. KL and Hardik did brilliantly. I don’t believe in the ‘favorites’ tag, but we’ve been performing exceptionally well. This win is dedicated to our fans."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Stay updated with the latest news and updates by visiting ZTC News and Z News Today. Explore more stories and breaking news on these platforms!