India, March 9 -- What Nairobi couldn't in 2000. What Lord's couldn't in 2021, Dubai could in 2025. That is to bring joy to billions of Indian cricket fans. India finally managed to beat New Zealand in an ICC tournament final in their third attempt. There were stutters, a bit too many for India's liking but KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya won the battle of nerves against the Kiwi spinners as India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, beating New Zealand by four wickets. It was their third Champions Trophy title (including the shared trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002) and the first one since 2013. It came less than nine months after their triumph in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

It was a strange, closely fought contest. Some would say that's e...