Rachin Ravindra shone brightly during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025, as he put on display his abilities on the grand stage. The young New Zealand batter achieved the remarkable feat of being the first player from New Zealand to surpass 250 runs in one edition of the prestigious tournament, totaling 263 runs, and eclipsing the previous record held by Kane Williamson, who scored 244 runs back in 2017.
Leading up to the final, Ravindra had already amassed 226 runs across three matches, showcasing his prowess with two centuries during New Zealand's campaign, particularly against Pakistan. His contributions proved pivotal for the team, and he started the final against India with vigor, racing to 25 runs off just 14 balls.
Facing India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first, aiming to set a competitive total. Unfortunately for Ravindra, his innings came to a premature end when Indian bowler Kuldeep Yadav sneaked one through his defenses, crashing the ball onto the stumps, leaving New Zealand at 69 for 2.
With Ravindra's dismissal, New Zealand needed to rely on their middle order to secure a strong score. While he did not achieve the milestone of equaling Chris Gayle's record of three centuries within one Champions Trophy edition, Ravindra's contributions were valuable to New Zealand's title hopes.
Rachin Ravindra’s outstanding statistics tell the tale of his impressive performances throughout the tournament. Not only did he set records, but he also drew praise from notable figures, including former England cricketer Michael Atherton, who highlighted him as one of cricket's brightest young talents. Atherton stated, "Rachin Ravindra is one of the brightest young talents in the game. We say similar about Harry Brook, and there's Yashasvi Jaiswal too with India, these are the guys who are going to be among the handful of the next generation of greats," as reported by Sky Sports.
Despite Ravindra’s exit, the match continued with drama. Mohammed Shami, who was hoping to deliver early blows for India, dropped two chances to dismiss Ravindra: the first catch flowing off his own bowling, resulting in injury to his hand as he signaled for medical help. Blood was reported to have dripped from his hands as he received brief treatment before returning to the field. This poor catching record continued the trend as he had dropped more chances during the semi-final against Australia just days prior.
The dropped catches proved nerve-wracking for the Indian side, as Ravindra was not only let off twice but also capitalized by positioning New Zealand comfortably. The initial partnership with Will Young provided solid ground for their innings, resulting in the highest opening stand against India during the 2025 edition with 57 runs. Eventually, as Will Young was dismissed for 15 runs off 23 balls, New Zealand appeared more vulnerable.
On this day, Rohit Sharma faced the uphill battle of losing the toss for the twelfth consecutive time during ODIs, which added to India's worries. Sharma remained composed, stating, "We've been here enough, batted first and bowled first, don't really mind batting second. It hasn't changed much, we've chased and won as well. That said, New Zealand have been solid competitors over the years.”
Overall, India may have proven to be the stronger team, with previous victories leading up to the finals—in fact, just the week prior, India triumphed over New Zealand by 44 runs. Reflecting on past encounters, New Zealand and India clashed famously back in 2000, where New Zealand clinched their first Champions Trophy title.
With Ravindra’s fall at 37 runs from 28 balls, it marked not just any dismissal, but one laden with pressure on both teams. New Zealand now faced challenges not only of chasing competitive runs but with mounting expectations of what they could deliver as the clock ticked toward concluding the tournament.
This ICC Men's Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025, is shaping up to be pivotal, if not historical, showcasing remarkable talents on the field and the fierce competition brewing between two of cricket’s most respected teams.