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The celebrations will go on in their camp until the break of dawn as the Men in Blue bask in the glory of their triumph. The Champions Trophy made its long-awaited return after 8 years, and it sure was an entertaining event. It has left an indelible mark on our memories, and as we bid adieu to the tournament, it's natural to experience withdrawal symptoms. We hope you enjoyed our coverage over the past few weeks as much as we enjoyed bringing everything to you. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

The players of the Indian team are now invited onto the stage to collect their white jackets, a symbol of victory and distinction for the winners of the Champions Trophy. Last but by no means least, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, walks up to wear his jacket. And now, it's time for the final moment. Rohit Sharma accepts the prestigious Champions Trophy from ICC Chairman, Jay Shah. The fireworks light up the night sky as Rohit holds the trophy aloft.

It is now time for the players of the winning team, India, to be called up on stage to collect their medals. Rohit Sharma steps up to collect his medal before walking over to Ian Bishop for a chat. Rohit starts by thanking the crowd for their support throughout the tournament. Says this is not their home ground, and the way the crowd turned up was amazing. Adds that, right from the beginning, their spinners in particular never disappointed. Says they played some really good cricket and acknowledges his bowlers for doing well throughout. On KL Rahul, he calls him the one with a solid and calm mind, the one who never gets bogged under pressure. Says his calm and composed batting under pressure conditions allows the others to play freely, especially for someone like Hardik. On Varun Chakaravarthy, he mentions that he has something very different in him. Says when you are playing on such pitches, you want to have someone like him. Adds that he didn't start but played in the latter matches and got crucial wickets. Says luckily for them, it came to use, and they just wanted to maximise his abilities. On the fans, he again acknowledges them and feels grateful for their support. Says it makes a huge difference when they come out in large numbers to support them.

Next up, the players of the runners-up team, New Zealand, are called up one by one to collect their medals. The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner collects his medal, and he is now in for a chat. Santner acknowledges that they were beaten by a better side on the day, but he couldn’t have asked for more from the group as a captain. Mentions that it was challenging to start, but credits India for their approach. He feels that they were about 20-25 runs short, but the team’s fighting spirit was evident, and he is happy with the effort shown. Santner particularly highlights Rohit Sharma’s performance, saying the first Powerplay was the best time to bat, and Rohit was outstanding during that period. States that captaining New Zealand for the first time in an ICC event was very enjoyable. Adds that his job was made easier by different guys stepping up at different moments, and he can't thank the guys enough for that.

First up, Aaron Finch is invited to place the trophy on the presentation podium. Following that, the match officials step forward to receive their mementoes. The officiating throughout the tournament has been of the highest standard, and these mementoes are a recognition of their efforts.

Rachin Ravindra is the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT for scoring 263 runs, including 2 tons. He says that it's been a great finale and says they played really good cricket. Credits India for being a strong side. On being asked about what makes him such a great player in ICC events, he says he likes to play tournament cricket as there is a common goal to win the trophy and thinks that is what brings the best out of him. Says he is proud of his past and has a lot of people to thank. Admits that it would have been the icing on the cake had they won the trophy but says cricket can be a cruel sport sometimes. Tells that all members of the squad have a part to play, also mentions that there isn't an established player nor a newbie and says they go about their business and play like a team.

Rohit Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his knock of 76 runs off 83 balls which set the tone in the chase. He says they played some really good cricket throughout the tournament and to have the result in their favour feels very nice. Mentions that he gets the backing of the team to try and be different and he got the right support from Rahul Dravid back in the ODI World Cup and from Gautam here. States that having played at this venue, he understands the nature of the pitch and he tries to use his feet and has a clear mindset of how to target the first few overs. Adds that it sometimes gets him out but also gives them results like these. Mentions that he likes having this kind of batting depth, which gives them the confidence to go hard at the new ball up front.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Virat Kohli joins in the conversation and begins by saying it's been amazing and says they wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour. Expresses his feelings and says it is lovely to play with such an amazing bunch of youngsters. Appreciates them for stepping up and taking this Indian team in the right direction. Is of the opinion that to win titles, the whole team needs to step up in different games. Mentions about the different players stepping up at different times and bowlers bowling those crucial spells and feels that collective effort is what has done it for them. Says that he tries to speak to the guys and tries to share his experience. Is overjoyed and says that the team is in good hands. On New Zealand, he says that they have always been in awe of what the Kiwis can do with a limited number of players. Says they come in with a set plan and are complemented well by the fielders too. Says that every player in the New Zealand camp has immense belief in their skills and deems them as the best fielding side. Says that it is sad to see a good friend in Kane Williamson on the losing side. Ends up by saying there's only respect between both of them.

Shubman Gill says it feels amazing. Says for the most time, he sat back and enjoyed Rohit's batting. Adds that they kept talking to each other and their partnership was really important. Mentions about Rohit telling him that it doesn't matter how big the scoreboard gap is, the aim should be to bat as long as possible. Says in 2023, they missed out but is delighted to win eight back-to-back ODIs. Appreciates New Zealand and mentions that they are a consistent side and they execute their plans accurately, which was displayed in this game.

Kuldeep Yadav credits KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja for finishing the game that did not need him to bat. Mentions that they have played really well this tournament and says this win if for the fans. Talks about how Rohit managed 4 spinners which isn't very easy and says the planning put in place was immaculate.

Varun Chakaravarthy says it was a sudden inclusion and admits that he didn't expect it to turn up like this for him. Adds it is a dream come true and says it was all about sticking to the plans.

Shreyas Iyer is in next. He says he is feeling ecstatic and this being his first ICC Trophy he is just overwhelmed. Adds that he likes to thrive under pressure and he hasn't been able to convert his starts to a big one but whenever his knock comes in handy for the team's win, he feels good about it.

Hardik Pandya is wrapped up in the Indian tricolour. He expresses his delight and says that back in 2017, they couldn't do the job but feels happy to do it this time around. Appreciates KL Rahul and says he has immense talent. Says that KL took the chances at the right time.

Ravindra Jadeja is in for a chat next. He says Hardik and KL Rahul batted really well in the last 10 overs on a tricky pitch which changed the momentum. Mentions that this win means a lot for him after playing for so long and winning big tournaments is what makes it all worthwhile.

KL Rahul is in for a chat. He says that he was really nervous, but with a couple of batters still to come to bat, it was all about holding his composure. Says it's not easy, but is happy to do the job for the side. Adds that he has batted in times like these, three out of five times and it has given him the experience to play under such situations with good preparations. Says they had to soak in a lot of pressure and credits the BCCI and the domestic cricket for giving them the exposure to play this kind of cricket.

Let's hear from a few players from the Indian camp...

Earlier, Mitchell Santner called it right at the toss, and Rachin Ravindra got New Zealand off to a promising start. It all looked rosy for the Kiwis while Rachin was at the crease, but Kuldeep Yadav's double strike turned the tide. From there, India's spin quartet applied the squeeze with their accuracy. Daryl Mitchell fell for 63 just as he was starting to put the foot down but thanks to Michael Bracewell's 40-ball 53, the Black Caps reached 251. To add to his batting heroics, Bracewell chipped in with the ball as well, delivering remarkable figures of 10-1-28-2 but despite his efforts, New Zealand ended up on the losing side.

With no Matt Henry to turn to at the death and with their two key spin weapons, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell bowled out, New Zealand were left with few options to apply more pressure on India. Given the solid start India had, the run rate was never much of an issue. Instead, it was the pressure of the final that loomed large. However, KL Rahul provided the calming influence India needed and he saw it through to the end.

One wicket brought two for New Zealand as Virat Kohli fell cheaply, and from there, the Black Caps began tightening the screws, with the ball spinning more than it did in the first innings. The pressure eventually got to Rohit Sharma, and from a commanding 105/0, India suddenly found themselves wobbling at 122/3. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel maneuvered the strike expertly against the Kiwi spinners, bringing some calmness to the chase. However, the door was once again open as both fell after getting a start, leaving India with more work to do in their pursuit of 252.