Dubai [UAE], March 10: After a 12-year wait, India finally clinched their long-awaited ICC Champions Trophy title in 2025, with Virat Kohli playing a pivotal role in their success. In an interview the senior batter shared his thoughts on the team’s remarkable achievement, underscoring the significance of experience, self-belief, and overcoming past setbacks.
Kohli acknowledged the excitement surrounding the return of the Champions Trophy, a tournament that had been absent for several years. He remarked, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a Champions Trophy, and the format is really good. This was our aim. After a tough tour of Australia, we came here and won a big tournament, which has once again boosted our confidence as a team.”
Throughout the tournament, India demonstrated resilience, with various players stepping up at critical moments. Kohli highlighted that the team’s past failures served as a source of motivation for their success. “There were moments in past tournaments where we weren’t able to finish games or capitalize on crucial situations. But this time, we learned from those experiences,” he said.
Kohli, a veteran of numerous ICC campaigns, credited the presence of experienced players in the team, which helped them handle pressure, especially in knockout matches. “That’s why you back experienced players—they have faced these moments before, and when you apply those learnings and work hard, you get a chance to turn things around,” he explained.
KL Rahul emerged as one of the standout performers in India’s title-winning campaign, particularly with his vital contributions in the knockout stages. Kohli praised his teammate’s performances, saying, “The way KL (Rahul) finished in the last two matches is a testament to that experience. When you’ve been in those situations before and couldn’t cross the line, there’s always a desire to get another opportunity and overcome it. And that’s exactly what we did.”
A key theme throughout India’s Champions Trophy campaign was their focus on their own abilities rather than the opposition. Kohli revealed that the team prioritized this mindset, which played a crucial role in their success. “One thing we kept emphasizing throughout the tournament was focusing on our skills—how good we are, not how good the opposition is,” he said.
Despite facing several challenges throughout the tournament, Kohli emphasized that these moments were part of a cricketer’s journey and the essence of playing the game. “Despite all the challenges, this is why you play the game—for these big tournaments,” he remarked.
Kohli’s contribution to the team’s success was significant, as he scored 218 runs in five matches, finishing fifth on the tournament’s list of top run-scorers. His leadership and experience were instrumental in guiding the team to victory, and while his individual performance was impressive, Kohli also acknowledged the importance of collective effort.
Reflecting on his journey and his fourth ICC title, Kohli expressed immense gratitude, saying, “Winning four ICC titles is truly a blessing, and I consider myself very lucky to have played for so long and achieved this.”
India’s victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy marks a milestone in the team’s history, and Kohli’s leadership and contributions were crucial in helping the team lift the prestigious trophy after more than a decade.