Dropped catches can't stop India winning Champions Trophy as Black Caps stumble in final

India won another global cricket tournament with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final.

Rohit Sharma led the chase with 76 off 83 balls and Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 34 helped India cross the finish line on 6-254 in 49 overs to win the Champions Trophy for the third time.

Half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell earlier helped New Zealand, which won the toss and chose to bat first, put on 7-251 in its 50 overs on a slow, two-paced Dubai wicket.

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Sharma provided a fiery start to India's innings, with the India skipper hitting seven fours and three sixes. Hardik Pandya scored a run-a-ball 18, putting on a crucial 38 runs off 36 balls for the sixth wicket with Rahul.

Sharma was named player of the match.

“We played really good cricket throughout the tournament," Sharma said. "I wanted to bat in a different (aggressive) way and having batting depth gives you that freedom.”

It was India’s 23rd win in 24 games across the last three men’s ICC events stretching back to 2023 – the only loss coming against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

India won the Twenty20 World Cup final against South Africa last year.

The victory will be seen as controversial by many outside India.

All of India's matches were played in Dubai after the Indian government refused permission for its team to go to official host Pakistan on security grounds.

India managed to avoid a disastrous fate during the Champions Trophy final after Rachin Ravindra was dropped twice, with one resulting in Mohammed Shami leaving the field.

When New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, the talented opener gifted his side momentum early and was seemingly living a charmed life before eventually falling for 37.

The 25-year-old was on 28 off 20 deliveries when he was dropped off the bowling of Shami at 0-46.

Shami could only put a fingertip on the chance and had to receive medical attention after signalling to medical staff straight away.

It continued an unfortunate trend after Shami dropped two catches off his own bowling against Australia in the semi-final.

"At least he got two hands to it, he's calling the physio on straight away," Nasser Hussain said on Amazon Prime.

"In the Aussie game, the semi-final he had one to his left and then one to his right, this time he got two hands to it, he's got some taping on his hand already. That's three caught and bowled chances Mohammed Shami has put down."

Ian Smith said it came back at an "awkward height".

"[It's] a very, very hard chance for fast bowlers because you're in your follow through, the last thing you want is it coming back at you at a great rate of knots," he said.

The next over brought more disaster for India when Ravindra was given out caught behind off the bowling of Varun Chakaravarthy.

Ravindra reviewed though and was given not out.

However, the chances kept coming because the next delivery was skied to deep mid-wicket.

Shreyas Iyer ran after it in the boundary and dived for the catch but couldn't take it cleanly.

"This is a big moment, they wanted this wicket so desperately," Dinesh Karthik said.

"One of the safer hands in this team, making good ground there, he was balanced and he would be extremely disappointed. It is a tough catch, one you need to take in big games like this, is this the moment? Time will tell."

Aaron Finch said it was "Frustration all round for India".

Shami was off the field during that over but then returned to bowl the next.

Eventually he was taken out of the attack for Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled Ravindra with his first ball as Shami and Iyer undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ravindra's fall made it 2-69 before Kane Williamson was gone two overs later for 11.

- with AP