Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma carved a special place in history on Sunday (March 9) by becoming the first captain to win the Player of the Match award in a Champions Trophy final. His match-winning 76-run knock in the 2025 final against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium earned him this prestigious recognition.
Rohit showcased his class in the high-stakes encounter, facing 83 balls and striking seven boundaries along with three towering sixes. His crucial 105-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill (31) provided India with a strong foundation in their chase. With this achievement, Rohit Sharma became only the fourth captain to win the Player of the Match award in an ICC final, joining an elite list that includes Clive Lloyd, Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was the first to win the honor in the 1975 ODI World Cup final, scoring a match-winning 102 runs against Australia at The Lord’s on June 21, 1975, and also contributing with a wicket. Ricky Ponting’s dominant 140* in the 2003 World Cup final against India ensured his name in this exclusive club. MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91 from 79 balls in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka secured his spot among the legendary captains.
India’s thrilling four-wicket victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 final also marked another historic milestone for Rohit. He became only the fifth captain, after Lloyd, Ponting, Dhoni, and Pat Cummins, to win multiple ICC trophies, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest leaders in modern cricket.
