“The Cup, the Echoes of Legacy, and the Tranquility Amidst the Turmoil | Cricbuzz.com”

**Champions Trophy 2025: Conquering Ghosts and Embracing Calm Amidst Turmoil**

**By Vijay Tagore**

The 2025 Champions Trophy final proved to be a gripping encounter, teetering on a knife-edge and offering a thrilling spectacle of relief and triumph. For the Indian cricket team, the specter of Ahmedabad 2023 loomed as they momentarily faltered despite a promising start to their run chase. The thin line between victory and defeat almost blurred, reminiscent of a near déjà vu of the World Cup 2023.

Ultimately, amid a whirlwind of emotions—tension, anticipation, excitement, and overwhelming relief—India emerged victorious. By overcoming past anxieties and defeating New Zealand, a formidable adversary at ICC events, they rewrote their narrative. Speculations about Rohit Sharma’s future had reached a fever pitch, with retirement rumors swirling. Yet, he seized Player of the Match accolades in a pivotal fixture of his storied career. A potential misstep lay in an ambitious shot selection, which, had it failed, might have overshadowed his solid 76 and vital century partnership with Shubman Gill.

The match unfolded like an intense Bollywood thriller. New Zealand’s strategic comeback with timely wickets saw India unravel from a seemingly secure position under Rohit’s leadership. It appeared certain that retrospective introspection would be required. In the end, KL Rahul, a man often criticized and underestimated by fans, rose to the occasion, mirroring his semifinal heroics against Australia. Rahul’s unbeaten 34 steadied an Indian side that was teetering towards chaos, securing a four-wicket victory.

This encounter exemplified a battle between the relentless Flywheel and the destabilizing Doom Loop. New Zealand’s resurgence threatened to derail India’s momentum until Rahul intervened, bringing about a decisive change. Hardik Pandya, who shared his own moment of imprudence on the field, lauded Rahul’s composure and brilliance. “Brilliant, calm, composed—he seized opportunities masterfully. KL Rahul’s talent is unparalleled, and his prowess with the bat is unmatched,” Pandya remarked, underscoring Rahul’s pivotal role at the crucial juncture.

In essence, India’s dominance across three ICC white-ball tournaments has seen just one defeat—a statistic that adds weight to their triumph. Two years prior, a record 130,000 spectators watched in silence on a somber evening in Ahmedabad. Yet on that Sunday in Dubai, a crowd of 25,000 erupted in jubilation, joined by over 1.4 billion fans in India celebrating from afar.

**© Cricbuzz**

**Tags:** India, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, ICC Champions Trophy 2025

**Related Stories:**
– CT 2025 final: Why no Pakistan presence on the podium
– Santner: “We pride ourselves in not giving up, and we didn’t”
– Not just light but luminescence at the end of the tunnel for Rohit
– KL Rahul, the unsung hero, proves his worth
– Rohit Sharma confirms he’s not retiring from ODIs
– Kohli: “Wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour”