India's captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) final cricket match between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. — AFP DUBAI, Mar 9 (AFP): Skipper Rohit Sharma top-scored with 76 as India beat New Zealand by four wickets for a record third Champions Trophy title on Sunday.
Chasing 252 for victory, India got off to a fast start through Rohit's first half-century of the tournament before KL Rahul made an unbeaten 34 to help achieve the target with six balls to spare in the final in Dubai.
Earlier, half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell steered New Zealand to 251-7 after India's spinners called the shots in the final.
The Black Caps won the toss and elected to bat first in Dubai after they suffered an early blow when fast bowler Matt Henry missed out due to a shoulder injury.
India came in unchanged from their win over Australia in the semi-final and their four spinners kept the opposition on the backfoot for a large part of the 50 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each on a sluggish pitch that has aided the slow bowlers in the 50-over tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
India have played all their matches in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to political tensions and have been unbeaten at the venue in four matches.
Mitchell made 63 and put on key stands, before the left-handed Bracewell smashed an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls to boost the total.
New Zealand openers started cautiously before previous-match hero Rachin Ravindra took on the bowling attack.
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