Dubai, March 9 -- New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had special words of praise in store for his counterpart India skipper Rohit Sharma, who played a ctook the Champions Trophy from their palm in Dubai on Sunday.

Rohit, known for unleashing destruction from the start, lived up to his reputation against the high-flying Kiwis in the high-stakes Champions Trophy final.

In the 105-run opening stand, he raised with Shubman Gill; Rohit played the aggressor role and took the fight to New Zealand's clinical bowling unit. Rohit left the spectators mesmerised with a swashbuckling 76(83).

While Rohit broke the back of New Zealand's defence and title hopes, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer filled India's chase by chipping in with valuable 34* and 48, ...