India defeat New Zealand for ICC Champions Trophy 'hat trick'

India won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy title in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Sunday, winning the tournament for the third time to confirm their status as the world's premier white-ball side even though their latest achievement could well be branded with an asterisk.

Skipper Rohit Sharma led by example as reigning Twenty20 World Champions India prevailed in a nerve-wracking final against New Zealand to claim their second successive global title.

Their four-wicket victory was a perfect culmination of their unbeaten run in the 50-overs tournament featuring the world's top eight teams.

India now have an incredible record of winning 22 of their last 23 completed matches in ICC tournaments. Their lone defeat in the last three ICC events came in the final of the 50-overs World Cup against Australia in 2023.

The triumph will alleviate some of that pain but questions abounded about the "unfair advantage" Rohit Sharma and his men got by playing all their matches in Dubai.

While other teams shuttled between three venues in Pakistan and flew to then UAE for any match against India, the eventual winners stayed put in Dubai where conditions also favored their traditional strength of spin bowling.

India persisted with a four-pronged spin attack in the knockout matches and their spin quartet bowled 38 of the 50 overs against New Zealand.

Rohit paid tribute to his spinners and also thanked the legions of Indian fans at the heaving Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the victorious day.

"The crowd has been magnificent. It's not our home ground but they've made it our home ground," said Rohit, who was player-of-the-match for his rapid 76.

New Zealand have been India's bugbear in ICC events and beating them twice in the tournament will be particularly pleasing for the eventual winners.

The Black Caps produced a lion-hearted bowling effort defending a modest 251-7 and skipper Mitchell Santner will take heart from their gallant display in their first ICC event under the spinner's leadership.

New Zealand won a tri-series in Pakistan in their build-up and lost only to India in their spirited Champions Trophy campaign.