NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma gave a special mention to the “silent hero” Shreyas Iyer after India scripted another triumphant chapter in its rich cricketing history.
India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final on Sunday. This marked India’s third Champions Trophy triumph, having previously won in 2002 (as joint winners with Sri Lanka) and in 2013.
All through the tournament, India’s middle order has been the team’s quiet protector, stepping up in critical moments—either stabilising the innings after top-order setbacks or forging crucial partnerships to steer the team to safety.
“I am very proud of this team. We knew the conditions would be difficult, but we adapted well. If you look at all the games, the first game was against Bangladesh. I know it was only 230, but we knew that the wicket was a little slow. We needed partnerships. The batsmen made big partnerships. Not to forget the silent hero Shreyas Iyer throughout the tournament was brilliant He was very, very important in that middle phase for us. Stitched the partnerships with all the batters who are batting with him that semi-final against Australia with him with him and Virat at that point was very, very important,” Rohit said in the post match conference.
Iyer concluded the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, following a crucial 48-run knock in the final against New Zealand. With 241 runs in five matches, he emerged as India’s leading run-getter and finished just behind Rachin Ravindra, who amassed 263 runs.
Though Iyer narrowly missed a well-deserved half-century, he played a pivotal role in India’s chase of 252, forging a crucial 61-run fourth-wicket stand with Axar Patel.
Displaying composure under pressure, Iyer built a steady and vital partnership with Axar, ensuring India remained on track for their third Champions Trophy title.
“And even against Pakistan and New Zealand, the league game that we played. And even today, to be honest, When I got out, we had lost three wickets. And at that time, again, we needed a partnership of 50 to 70 runs, which him and Shreyas have done. So, when such performances happen, when you understand the conditions and adapt the conditions as soon as possible, it feels good. So that’s why my work is less than it should be,” he said.
“I don’t need to speak much because the boys understand what to do in between. And not to forget, We are talking about batting, but keeping the bowlers, the teams, under 240s under 250 is a big effort. We make it in our minds that the wicket is helping the spinners. But you must have seen that in the fifth match, no ball has turned in such a way that the ball is turning every time, in every over,” he said.
“Sometimes, one or two balls turn in between, but that is the challenge that you are facing as a batter. You don’t have to be ready for the ball that is turning. The straight ball that is coming, which is 80% out of 100, or 70%, you have to be ready for that. So, I think that is the adaption. And that is what these guys have shown in the middle, that this is how we want to adapt and play our game,” the Indian skipper said.
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