After India’s exciting victory against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final, team captain Rohit Sharma praised KL Rahul for staying calm under pressure. Rohit mentioned how much he appreciates Rahul’s contributions, especially batting at number six. This win marked India’s third Champions Trophy title and their seventh overall in white-ball cricket.
KL Rahul, who has batted in different positions before, played an important role in the final by scoring 34 not out off 33 balls when the team really needed runs. Across five matches, he scored 140 runs, averaging an impressive 140.00.
During the press conference, Rohit shared how thoughtful they were about Rahul’s batting position because of his ability to keep a cool head. He explained that when KL is at the crease, he helps keep the team relaxed too. Rahul may not always score huge runs, but his 30 to 40 runs can be vital, especially in tough situations.
Rohit also talked about his own innings of 76 runs, which was a big improvement after scoring only 104 runs in the past four matches. He knew it was important to score early when the pitch conditions were good. He aimed to build a strong foundation for the team and felt pleased with his performance despite getting out.
He remarked how satisfying it was to contribute to a victory, especially after the last World Cup where he scored a lot but didn’t win. He emphasized that small but crucial contributions help the team win.
Rohit acknowledged the brilliance of his opening partner, Shubman Gill, noting that they complement each other’s playing styles well. He also praised the entire team’s consistency in finals across different ICC events, showing that they can bounce back even after losses.
He concluded the press conference by dedicating the win to the whole country, expressing gratitude for the support they receive from fans. Winning such significant tournaments brings joy not just to the players, but to everyone in India.
In the match, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first. They started well, but Kuldeep Yadav bowled effectively, taking key wickets. New Zealand finished with 251 runs. In response, India had a strong start, and even after losing some wickets, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya helped secure the victory with six wickets and one over to spare.
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