Kohli Aims to Rebound Strongly After Challenging Australia Tour

On March 9, India claimed their third trophy of the Champions Trophy after defeating New Zealand in the finals. Here is how the winners reacted after the match.

Virat Kohli

After the tours in Australia, we wanted to recover and win a big tournament. That is exactly what we did and it’s an amazing feeling. The youngsters on the team are incredibly talented and are leading Indian cricket in the right direction. We are all very eager to help and try to make an impact. But these guys are doing such a great job which is why we are such a strong team.

At this point in my career, after so many years of playing, there are certain situations which are enjoyable. And having to win titles, which have been missing in the last few, requires the whole team to step up in different games. As you witness the progress of this tournament, over five matches, I think every individual has put their hand up somewhere. As a whole, that is why we emerged victorious, and as a team we were able to put such great impacts with our knocks and spells. It's not just one individual who can win a tournament. It's a collective effort that can win you a title, and I am over the moon we were able to play as a unit and have the best time here as a team during our practice sessions both on and off the field.

Honestly, it has been an incredible tournament for us. As Shubman mentioned, I try to talk to these boys as often as I can. I try to explain to them how I have managed to play for so long and try to wherever there is opportunity to help better their games. And yes, it’s as true as they say, at the end, you want to leave it in a better place. That’s our effort. You know, that’s what we’re trying to achieve. When all is said and done, we want to make sure that we have a group that is equipped to take on the world for the next eight to ten years. And without a doubt, these guys possess the ability to do that. And the game understanding. And, they’ve already stepped up so many times, so, you know, they have. This guy has played impactful innings. Shreyas has beautifully played. KL has been finishing games, Hardik is a match winner, so you know, we are in good hands.

New Zealand is a team that we have always admired because of what they achieve with the small number of players they have. New Zealand maximizes the talent that they possess to the fullest extent. Whenever we compete against them in important matches, we know that they are prepared with a well-established plan. No other team in the world executes plans as well as they do. Every fielder understands where the bowler intends to bowl. You can feel every fielder is on the offense because it is clear that the bowler will be extremely precise. So, props to them.

These cricketers have been relatively the most consistent over the past fews years in international tournaments. The consistency is fueled by their willingness to trust in their abilities and the immense talent at their disposal. They maximize their potential and are arguably the best fielding side in the world. So much respect for those guys, they prove day by day what it takes to remain in the elite of this sport. And yet another great campaign from them. I am sad for my good friend (Kane Williamson) who ended up on the losing side. But to be honest there's an equality of negative feelings between us.

NL Rahul

I definitely do not think I should be saying this on camera, but I was s***ing myself at the end. I had a little faith because we still had a couple of batters to come, but at that stage the game is more about composure control and that is something I guess everyone understands. It feels good when you get to the end after all this and happy I won today.

I reckon I have batted about three times in these over five matches and in one of these games against Pakistan, I did not bat at all. The game has offered me some good time in the middle and has given me the opportunity to prepare myself for a moment like this.

Perhaps it is easier to explain than I just did, but it does require a little skill. All of us have grown up playing cricket and have had to overcome numerous obstacles. I personally come from a background where there was immense pressure from the moment I picked up a bat and made the decision to become a professional cricketer. It is also a combination of the first class cricket the BCCI offers. They simply groom every talented player and give them the necessary tools and platforms to display their skills, while also challenging them to continuously improve. It ultimately leads back to that.

Shubman Gill

In my opinion, watching Rohit Bhai bat was amazing. His batting put me in the mood to perform. He mentioned to me that you are currently a little behind, but you should check the scoreboard. You only need to play until the end. This remains one of the best advice that I have followed all my life, only beating it out of my head at times. The partnership came in handy since we kept talking to each other and it proved critical for solving issues. We missed the last ODI game of the season in early 2023. It was surreal for us. Starting from earlier, watching him (Kohli) batting made me wonder what hitting brilliance looks like. Seeing it in real time forced me to acknowledge the level of intensity with which he approaches the game, and it is simply phenomenal. The idea is about how much the game is willing to give to us, and there is no deeper thought than that. He does not change that view off the field. He also makes certain statements expecting athletes to play with everything they have on the pitch. That is why it is absolutely mind-boggling to see how much he trusts his words.

Hardik Pandya

It's truly amazing to win an ICC event and most notably the Champions Trophy. 2017 was very special to me and I recall it very fondly. We did not get the job done then but we were very pleased with how each and every one of us contributed throughout the tournament.

I think he was very calm and composed positive and he took his chances at the right point of time. I guess this is what KL Rahul is like. He has a lot of good qualities and I don't think there is a single soul in this world who can hit the ball better than him. The way he did today was surely an exhibition.

Shreyas Iyer

I Got emotional in the moment but in reality I am feeling ecstatic now. It is kind of difficult to put it into words and to be brutally honest, This is my first ICC trophy and looking around the dressing room was kind of overwhelming for me seeing each and every one of us as we progressed through this tournament, It was simply phenomenal.

With complete honesty, I love working under pressure and I feel my best when I am challenged. At least with the tournament, I have been getting great starts, but the big scores are proving to be elusive. Yet, as long as I’m able to help my team win, I take great pride in doing so and that makes me happy.

Ravindra Jadeja

After a game, I am either a hero or a zero based on my batting number. It was crucial for KL and Hardik during that partnership, them scoring was significant. At the start, the wicket was not easy to bat on. Being able to play for India and winning the Champions Trophy is a great opportunity. For someone who has played for a long time, there is regret when you do not part of the winning team. Fortunately, I have been able to remain fit and at my best during these two tournaments, the 2024 T20 WC and the Champions Trophy.

Kuldeep Yadav

Fortunately, I didn't have to bat. Must give credit to KL bhai (Rahul) and Jaddu bhai (Jadeja) who made sure to get us through. When you do well, there will be expectations set. You earn the a certain tag of favourites but I personally don’t subscribe to that. It is easy to say we are playing 4 spinners but to actually succeed in having all four spinners on the field is extremely difficult. The way Rohit bhai managed it was outsanding. You have to read the batter, understand which batter is likely to come in certain situations, who needs to bowl when.. It requires a lot of planning. It’s not something that happens overnight. It was a plan since two or three days before the match regarding how and what to bowl. We will party and the entire nation will join as well.

Read More: Hardik Pandya's Eventful Return in IPL 2025: On-Field Tensions and Reconciliation