Mumbai: Following India’s triumph in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, India’s key players Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya shared their thoughts exclusively on Star Sports, reflecting on the journey, their performances, and the emotions of lifting the prestigious ICC trophy.
Virat Kohli spoke exclusively on Star Sports about winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 after many years
“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, different players stepped up in different matches.
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. 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. 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. One thing we kept emphasizing throughout the tournament was focusing on our skills—how good we are, not how good the opposition is. Despite all the challenges, this is why you play the game—for these big tournaments. Winning four ICC titles is truly a blessing, and I consider myself very lucky to have played for so long and achieved this.”
KL Rahul spoke exclusively on Star Sports about winning his first ICC 50-over title
“I don’t think there’s a better feeling than this. I had said this in a Star Sports interview a couple of months ago—that my entire focus from now on is to win as many titles as possible. God has been kind to put me in situations where I can win games for my team. I haven’t always been able to do that, but that’s the beauty of sport—you keep getting opportunities. If you stay humble, put your heart in the right place, train hard, and let your bat do the talking, God finds ways to bless you. That’s all I can say. We work hard all year, throughout our careers, but moments like these are truly special.”
KL Rahul spoke exclusively on Star Sports about Hardik Pandya’s approach under pressure
“When he (Hardik) comes in, he’s very calm. He can play 5-6 dot balls, but the pressure is never on him—it’s on others. Having played with him for so many years and especially in this tournament, I know that even if he takes a few balls, he’s always just two or three hits away from changing the game. He has worked hard on that ability, and when the team is under pressure, he knows exactly when to step up. When you bat with him, you don’t need to take unnecessary pressure from the other end—you just focus on your role. We’ve done this a couple of times in this tournament, and it was special to be at the crease with him and Ravindra Jadeja at the end. We’ve played together for so many years and always came close but somehow missed out. This time, we finally got over the line.”
Hardik Pandya spoke exclusively on Star Sports about KL Rahul’s contribution
“Whenever we play in an ICC tournament, it’s always special. The stakes are high, and 50-over cricket is a challenge. But I think the way we played as a team was incredible. I want to specially mention KL Rahul—this is who he is. The amount of talent and the time he has—very few players have that. What he did in the last two games showcased his ability, and I’m really happy for him.”
Hardik Pandya spoke exclusively on Star Sports about Indian team’s confidence and self-belief after the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup win
“We believe in our skill set, and that’s what helped us play the brand of cricket we did. There’s self-belief in everyone. Even if one of us gets out—be it me, KL, or anyone else—we know that as a group, we can get the job done. This victory wasn’t about individual brilliance—it was a complete team effort. Everyone contributed at the right moments, whether it was an exceptional catch, a crucial bowling spell, or a game-changing innings. And that’s what made this win even more special.”
Shreyas Iyer spoke exclusively on Star Sports about winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025
“The feeling is surreal. It’s really hard to put into words, but I’m incredibly grateful and thankful. It feels fresh from the inside because we’ve worked so hard throughout the year. There have been ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I feel proud that I backed myself in crucial situations. My self-belief has always been high, and now, standing here with this blazer and a medal, it’s the happiest moment.”
Shreyas Iyer spoke exclusively on Star Sports about his Champions Trophy journey
“My 79-run knock against New Zealand, when we lost three wickets in the powerplay, was personally very satisfying. Taking the team to 250 from that situation was a big achievement for me, even though I missed out on a hundred. Apart from that, I feel my innings against England in the first ODI helped secure my place in the team. And now, winning the Champions Trophy, it honestly feels like a fairytale.”
