Rohit Sharma made a combative 76 to back up a potent spin bowling display as India overcame a plucky New Zealand by four wickets in a nervy final to win a record third Champions Trophy title in front of a 'home crowd' at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The Blue Shirts, who remained unbeaten in this eight-nation tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, took full advantage of the "home ground" and 100% support from the spectators, as they successfully chased down the 252-runs target in the penultimate over of the final.
After limiting the Black Caps to 251 for 7, India got off to a fast start.
Captain Rohit Sharma struck form on the big day to score a fluent half century, hitting Jamieson for a six on the second ball of the over.
His fellow opener, Shubman Gill got a chance at 6, when Daryl Mitchell could not hold on to a catch at mid-wicket off Jamieson.
Sharma completed his 50 runs in 41 balls. India's opening partnership ended at 105, and they lost another two wickets in the span of 17 runs.
The Indian captain, however, held his own, scoring 76 runs off 83 balls, punctuated by seven fours and three sixes.
Gill (31) fell to a brilliant catch at extra cover by Glenn Phillips off skipper Mitchell Santner. Virat Kohli could only score one run before getting dismissed by Michael Bracewell.
But Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel kept the India ship steady with a partnership of 61.
Shreyas was caught by Rachin Ravindra at short fine leg off Santner, two runs short of his half-century, while Patel (29) missed a shot off Bracewell to hole out to Will O'Rourke at long off.
Half of the India's batting lineup was back in the pavilion at 203 runs.
With just 49 runs needed in 8.3 overs, KL Rahul (34 not out), Hardik Pandya (18) and Ravindra Jadeja (9 not out) took the team home with 6 ball and four wickets to spare.
For New Zealand, Santner and Bracewell took two wickets each, while Ravindra and Jamieson chipped in with one scalp apiece.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat but Santner's decision did not fare well as their batting unit could muster 251 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs despite Daryl Mitchell's and Bracewell's contrasting half-centuries.
The Blackcaps had got off to a flying start with openers Young and Ravindra putting together a brisk 57 runs.
Rachin was more aggressive, hitting Pandya for 16 runs in one over with two fours and a six. His dropped catch at 28 did not prove costly for India as his innings ended just 11 runs later. New Zealand were 57 in the eighth over but started to lose wickets quickly with top three batters falling within just 18 runs of each other.
The Black Caps were reduced to 75 for 3 in 12.2 overs, when Mitchell and Tom Latham (14) added 33 runs to complete the team's century.
After Latham's departure, Mitchell and Phillips (34) took a cautious approach, as no boundaries were hit on the next 81 deliveries.
Mitchell and Bracewell took their team past 200 by putting on 46 runs. Mitchell then fell to Shami after scoring 63 runs off 101 deliveries, including three fours.
At that juncture, Bracewell stepped up the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries and remained 53 not out off 40 balls, with three fours and two sixes.
For India, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav shared two wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket.
India had played four spinners in all of their last three matches, which proved to be a telling factor in their domination of the opposition.
"It is very nice," Sharma said after the match. "We played some good cricket throughout the tournament. To have the result our way is a great feeling."
Star batsman VKohli praised the team's comeback after a tough Australia tour.
"Lovely playing with a bunch of amazing youngsters. They're stepping up and taking India in the right direction," he said. "When you leave, you want to leave in a better position. So many impactful knocks (Shubman) Gill, Shreyas (Iyer), Rahul have played. The team is in good hands," he added.
New Zealand missed their pace spearhead Matt Henry after he was forced out of the final due to a shoulder injury.
"It's been a good tournament," said Santner. "We have been challenged along the way and the way we have grown as a group. We lost to a better side today."
(WITH INPUT FROM AFP)
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