Rohit Sharma, leading the Indian team in the 2025 Champions Trophy final, finally notched up his maiden half-century in an ICC tournament final. The Indian skipper reached this milestone in his ninth ICC final appearance across formats, spanning 18 years. In the high-stakes clash against New Zealand in Dubai, Rohit cruised to his fifty in just 41 balls, setting a strong foundation for India’s chase of 253 runs.
This achievement was a significant improvement from his previous best score in an ICC final—a 31-ball 47 against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. Notably, this performance marked a significant turnaround from his forgettable three-ball duck in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma finally used his brains. Great to see.
— Glane (@Spartans62) March 9, 2025
Stay for another 5-10 overs and it would be an easy win.
Rohit Sharma finally used his brains. Great to see.
— Glane (@Spartans62) March 9, 2025
Stay for another 5-10 overs and it would be an easy win.
Rohit sharma please don't say "good bye" you still have so much left in you… might be ur prime is still to come…by the looks…!!
— 🇮🇳 Blacklisted 🚩 (@Blacklstd_Beast) March 9, 2025
no body is near you when on song right now..#INDvsNZ #iccchampionstrophy2025
Rohit sharma please don't say "good bye" you still have so much left in you… might be ur prime is still to come…by the looks…!!
— 🇮🇳 Blacklisted 🚩 (@Blacklstd_Beast) March 9, 2025
no body is near you when on song right now..#INDvsNZ #iccchampionstrophy2025
@drshamamohd
— Charanjiv Singh (@karmaceejay) March 9, 2025
Rohit Sharma at 66!
How is the JOSH??
A Tournament of Mixed Fortunes
Despite his vast experience, Rohit had struggled for consistency in the tournament leading up to the final. While he provided solid starts, he failed to convert them into big scores, registering 41, 20, 15, and 28 in the league stage and the semi-final against Australia.
However, his form in recent months hinted at a resurgence. The 37-year-old had recently surpassed 11,000 ODI runs and smashed his 33rd ODI century against England. His ability to step up in crucial games was evident, as he helped India gain early momentum in the final against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma’s Journey in ICC Finals
Rohit Sharma’s journey in ICC finals began in 2007 during the T20 World Cup in South Africa, where he played a crucial unbeaten knock of 30 runs against Pakistan. Over the years, he featured in multiple summit clashes, but big scores eluded him. His past final performances include 9 runs in the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England, 29 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup final, and two modest scores in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals of 2021 and 2023.
His 47-run knock against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final was his previous best in an ICC decider before he finally crossed the 50-run mark in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. This innings not only highlighted his perseverance but also cemented his legacy as a dependable leader for India on the grandest stage.
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