KL Rahul ran towards Ravindra Jadeja and hugged him with all the strength he had left in him after India hit the winning runs in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. The moment was one of pure emotion—relief, joy, and redemption all wrapped into one. Once the initial celebrations settled, Rahul took a slow walk around the Dubai International Stadium, soaking in the electric atmosphere, the chants of jubilant Indian fans echoing through the night. It wasn’t just another trophy for India; it was a statement. And for Rahul, it was the final piece of a redemption arc that had taken over a year to complete.
The scorecard might not show the full story, but India had just pulled off a nervy chase. The team lost crucial wickets at important junctures, but they still managed to clinch the victory with six balls and four wickets in hand. It was Jadeja who ultimately sealed the win, pulling the final ball of the penultimate over for a four, but Rahul’s composed presence at the crease had once again proved invaluable. It was the third time in the tournament that he had remained unbeaten, out of the four occasions he had come to bat. And while this was the only game he didn’t finish with a six, it didn’t matter. The match was won. The title was secured. India were, once again, champions of champions.
As Rahul walked around the field, there was a distinct sense of peace about him, a quiet triumph in his demeanor. This was the night he had been waiting for—the moment when the ghosts of 2023 would finally be exorcised. The weight of that fateful World Cup final had hung over him like a shadow, but in Dubai, under the floodlights, history had been rewritten. Rahul was no longer the man who crumbled under pressure. He was an ICC trophy winner.
That sense of calm, however, was momentarily shattered when the broadcaster pulled him in for an interview. Known to be a man of few words and measured emotions, Rahul, for once, let his guard down.
“I was s******* myself at the end,” he admitted with a grin, acknowledging just how close things had gotten when India lost Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel in quick succession.
“In moments like this, in big games, it’s about holding your composure. We all know that, but it’s not easy. Just happy we got over the line,” Rahul reflected, the relief evident in his voice.
For years, Rahul had been labeled as a player who didn’t deliver when it mattered most. The “villain of 2023” tag had followed him relentlessly, a cruel reminder of the 66 off 107 balls he scored in the World Cup final—an innings that, in hindsight, perhaps wasn’t as disastrous as people made it out to be, but in the high-stakes world of Indian cricket, perception is everything.
That perception, however, was beginning to change. Selected ahead of Rishabh Pant and slotted into an unfamiliar No.6 position, Rahul had been the ultimate team player throughout the Champions Trophy. Under pressure, he had thrived. His ability to close out games with the precision of an assassin had been on full display, and even in tricky conditions, he had adapted.
Many believed that batting at No.6 went against his natural instincts. On the slow, sluggish pitches of Dubai, run-scoring was tough, but Rahul found a way. He manipulated the field, picked the right balls to attack, and most importantly, never lost his cool. Every time he walked out to bat, the memories of November 19, 2023, must have haunted him. But instead of succumbing to the pressure, he used it as fuel.
He spoke candidly about his journey before the tournament, admitting that he had worked extensively on improving his big-hitting abilities. “I just wanted to be the ultimate team man,” he said after guiding India to a semi-final win. “I’m happy to play wherever I’m asked. It’s helped me understand my game a lot better, and over the last year, it has improved my boundary-hitting.”
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of the night was the overwhelming support from his teammates. Almost every Indian player had an arm around Rahul, offering words of appreciation. It wasn’t just about his runs—it was about what he had endured to get here.
Captain Rohit Sharma summed it up perfectly. “When we discussed KL’s batting position, we talked a lot about how calm he is, how the pressure doesn’t get to him. We wanted that calmness in the middle. The contribution might not be 70 or 80 runs, but those 30-40s mean a lot in tough situations. With KL in the team, he keeps himself and the dressing room very calm.”
Hardik Pandya took it a step further. “KL is the best hitter of the ball I have ever seen,” he declared, a statement that carried extra weight given the years of scrutiny Rahul had faced.
The message from the team was clear: “We know things didn’t go your way in 2023, but forget that. You’ve arrived now. You are an ICC Trophy winner.”
Rahul deserved to soak it all in. The last 12 months had been brutal. He had been trolled, ridiculed, and dismissed as a player who wasn’t “cut out” for the big moments. At one point, his frustration boiled over. Earlier in the tournament, he had publicly asked, “What more can I do?”—a cry for understanding from fans who had often been too quick to write him off.
That narrative, however, was changing. This Champions Trophy had largely been about Rohit’s captaincy, Virat Kohli’s brilliance, and Gautam Gambhir’s influence as a mentor. But with time, fans would realize just how invaluable Rahul had been. His adaptability, his resilience, and his selflessness had played a massive role in India’s triumph.
At 32, Rahul was no longer a young cricketer searching for his place. He was a proven match-winner, a player who had mastered the art of evolving with the game. He had no fragile ego—something rare in modern cricket—and had willingly embraced whatever role the team needed him to play.
His redemption arc may not get a Netflix documentary. It may not be the first story told when people talk about this Champions Trophy. But in time, Rahul would achieve a cult-hero status. Because players like him—silent warriors who take every challenge in their stride—don’t come around often.
For now, though, KL Rahul could finally let go of the past. The weight of 2023 had been lifted. He was a champion. And no one could take that away from him.
