Champions Trophy: Certainly, it is bittersweet, was a glorious final, says Rachin Ravindra

Dubai (The Uttam Hindu): New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra ended as the leading run-scorer of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy by amassing 263 runs in four innings. He also took three wickets with his left-arm spin bowling. All of this was enough for Ravindra to bag the Player of the Tournament honour. After receiving the award, Ravindra said it award was a bitter-sweet scenario for him as New Zealand fought hard, but lost to India by four wickets in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. “Certainly, it is bittersweet. It was a glorious final. We played a good game of cricket. Congratulations to India. The individual accolades are great, and playing for a team is great. Maybe we get to play on a good wicket. I like playing tournament cricket because you are playing for a goal,” said Ravindra after the match ended. He also expressed gratitude towards people who have helped him become the player he currently is, including the camaraderie in the New Zealand team. “Very proud of my past, and I have so many people to thank. It would have been nice to have the icing on the cake with the trophy, but cricket is a cruel game.” “I always like to bowl. Santner always gives me a bit of banter that I don't bowl much in the nets. All members of the squad have a part to play. There isn't an established player or a newbie. We go about our business and play like a team,” he added.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner also heaped praise on Ravindra’s all-round prowess. “We have seen how he steps up in these tournaments. With the ball as well, he stepped up. He understands the game at such a young age. He's got a massive future. Even today, he went over a run a ball.” The Black Caps finished as runners-up in the competition, and Santner, captaining New Zealand in an ICC tournament for the first time, said they fell 20-25 runs short of their ideal total in the first innings. “It's been a good tournament. We have been challenged along the way and the way we have grown as a group. We lost to a better side today. Everyone contributed to the tournament and put their hands up at different times. It was good bowling.” “We lost a couple of wickets after the power-play, and they really got the squeeze on. Credit to their spinners, (for) how they bowled. They are world-class bowlers. We were 20 or 25 under what we were looking for.” “It has been very enjoyable. Made easy by the group. Different guys stepping up at different times makes it easy. We have had a few challenges, but we have adapted. It has been a great tournament.” Santner signed off by giving his take on Glenn Phillips taking that jaw-dropping catch to dismiss Shubman Gill. “That man, he keeps doing it. The way Rohit and Gill went about it was great. Rohit going at almost run a ball on that wicket was outstanding. We knew the game could change quickly, and that happened.”