Phewww, what a nerve-wrecking Champions Trophy 2025 Final that was!!!

Our bowlers began the show and then it was all about आपला RO’s cracking knock coupled with invaluable contributions from every batter that helped the Indian cricket team re-write the history books, collecting a record-breaking third #ChampionsTrophy crown! 🏆

Let’s have a look at what HITMAN, the Player of the Match, had to say on a fantastic tournament for his side. Excerpts from his post-match presentation ceremony…

On the final encounter & the overall tournament

It is very nice. We played some really good cricket through the tournament, to come out and have the result our way is a great feeling, very happy with how we played this game.

On his aggressive approach as an opener

It’s not natural to me but it is something I really wanted to do… When you are trying something different you need the backing of the team and they were with me, Rahul bhai in the 2023 World Cup and now with Gauti bhai. I have played all these years in a different style, I wanted to see if we can get results by playing differently.

Having played here on a few occasions, you understand the nature of the pitch, using the feet is something I have been doing for a while now, I have gotten out as well. But I never wanted to look away from that.

On team’s depth in the batting department

The depth gives me the freedom and it helps. With Jadeja coming at 8, it gives you the confidence to go hard up front. As long as I am clear in my mind, it is great.

On KL Rahul’s key role in the middle order

A very solid mind, never gets over-rawed by the pressure around him, that's the reason we wanted to have him in the middle phase, there's a bit of calmness when he bats and picks the right shot to play to the situation, he gives the freedom to others to play freely like Hardik.

All praise for Varun Chakaravarthy!

He has got something different about him. When you are playing on a pitch like that you want the batters to take him on and that's where he becomes a lot more dangerous, that was the thought when picking him in the squad.

He didn't start off in the tournament for us, but when he played against New Zealand and picked up a 5-fer, we saw the ability he possesses with the ball and we wanted to maximise that. He has great quality about his bowling and luckily for us it came to use at various times.