The cup, the ghosts and the calm within the storm

It was a rip-roaring contest, full of relief and glory, that could have easily gone either way. For India, the haunting memories of Ahmedabad 2023 might have resurfaced when they stumbled briefly after a sensational start to the chase. The proverbial slip between the cup and the lip nearly unfolded, as Rohit Sharma's India narrowly avoided turning the Champions Trophy 2025 into a replay of the World Cup 2023.

Eventually, in a dizzying cocktail of emotions - tension, anticipation, and excitement - the Champions Trophy final ended in immense relief for them. In the end, it was a case of "all's well that ends well," as India overcame the ghosts of the past, defeating New Zealand, a team that has long been a thorn in their flesh in ICC events.

As speculation surrounding his future with the Indian team intensified and talk of retirement reached a crescendo, Rohit Sharma walked away with Player of the Match honors in one of the most crucial games of his illustrious career. The hero could easily have become the villain, despite his solid 76 and a strong century stand with Shubman Gill. The Indian captain was partly to blame for attempting an extravagant shot when a more composed, steady approach could have seen the team through.

The game then had all the tropes of a Bollywood potboiler, with New Zealand steadily clawing back with wickets and India inexplicably began to slip from a seemingly secure position with Rohit at the helm. At one point, it seemed like at least half a dozen mea culpas would be in order. In the end, it was KL Rahul - much maligned and heavily trolled by fans - who emerged as the hero, saving the day (or rather, the night) for the Indian team, just as he had done in the semifinal against Australia.

As they say in the US, it was a classic Flywheel vs. Doom Loop contest. The heavy flywheel, which usually bulldozes its way to success, was momentarily halted by the Doom Loop - a self-perpetuating cycle that is hard to break. It was only when Rahul stepped up that the momentum was finally arrested, preventing further collapse. He remained not out on 34 as India won the match by four wickets.

Hardik Pandya, no less guilty of playing a rash shot himself, paid the ultimate tribute to his teammate, the unsung hero of the night. "Brilliant, calm, composed - he took his chances at the right times. I think this is what KL Rahul is. He has immense talent; I don't think anyone can hit the ball like he can," Pandya said, highlighting the point where the game was won and lost. Rahul brought a sense of sanity to a situation where chaos was threatening to take over.

The final telling stat is that India has suffered just one defeat across three ICC white-ball events. Not long ago, a 130,000-strong crowd was silenced on a gloomy night in Ahmedabad. But on Sunday, in Dubai, 25,000 fans erupted in celebration. Over 1.4 billion more would have joined them back home in the revelry.