IND vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Rohit Sharma etches name in elite list of skippers

Dubai: Cricketer Rohit Sharma etched his name in an elite list of skippers who have scored 50 or more runs in a Champions Trophy final, with a crucial 76-run knock against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy summit clash here on Sunday.

Rohit became only the fourth captain to achieve this feat in a Champions Trophy final, joining Sourav Ganguly (117 vs New Zealand, 2000, Nairobi), Sanath Jayasuriya (74 vs India, 2002, Colombo RPS), and Hansie Cronje (61* vs West Indies, 1998, Dhaka).

Notably, Rohit’s 76 is his highest score in any ODI final, surpassing his previous best of 66 against Australia in the CB Series final at the SCG in 2008.

Meanwhile, India’s opening duo of Rohit and Shubman Gill scripted history with a 105-run stand against New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, joining an elite list of century partnerships in summit clashes of the prestigious tournament.

The duo put on a solid 105-run stand before New Zealand struck with a moment of brilliance in the field.

Mitchell Santner tossed one up to Gill, who drove the ball crisply towards cover, only for Glenn Phillips to pull off a sensational catch. Phillips leapt to his right and plucked a one-handed stunner in mid-air, leaving a stunned Gill walking back to the pavilion after scoring 31 off 50 balls, including a six.

The highest opening stand in a Champions Trophy final remains the 141-run partnership between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar against New Zealand in the 2000 edition at Nairobi. Pakistan’s Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman also stitched a memorable 128-run stand against India in the 2017 final at The Oval, setting up Pakistan’s maiden Champions Trophy triumph.

With their 105-run partnership, Rohit and Gill became only the third opening pair to achieve the feat in a Champions Trophy final, reinforcing India's dominance in global tournaments. However, Phillips' brilliance in the field has given New Zealand a much-needed boost.