Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were demonstrating an exceptional blend of caution and aggression when the first drinks break was called during the second innings of the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai. In pursuit of 252 runs for victory, India was comfortably positioned at 103 without loss, marking the only century-plus opening partnership in the history of Champions Trophy finals. The momentum was swiftly shifting away from New Zealand.

The New Zealand dugout was acutely aware of this shift. Injured captain Kane Williamson, who had sustained a quad strain earlier in the day and was unable to continue fielding, quickly joined the discussion. Easily identifiable in his bib among the other players clad in black, the esteemed Kiwi batsman engaged in an animated conversation. There was a palpable energy, characterized by enthusiastic gestures and vocal encouragement.

Following Williamson's motivational address, captain Mitchell Santner took the lead in the ongoing discussion. The fervour remained high, with a speaker change but not in intensity. It is uncommon to witness New Zealand players so energized, but the chance to secure the Champions Trophy warranted such enthusiasm.

The impact of this rallying cry was immediate. Just three balls later, Glenn Phillips executed a remarkable one-handed catch, unexpectedly dismissing Shubman Gill and breaking the partnership. While one might argue that Phillips is naturally inclined to perform such extraordinary feats, New Zealand desperately requires that moment.

This catch provided New Zealand with a much-needed reprieve from the onslaught of Gill and Rohit, reinvigorating their chances in the match. In the subsequent over, Michael Bracewell successfully trapped Virat Kohli LBW. The renowned chaser was guilty of prematurely closing the face of his bat, resulting in the ball striking him in front. Although he opted for a review, it proved to be futile.

Santner, Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra effectively applied pressure on India, reminiscent of the earlier efforts by Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy earlier in the day.

Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer struggled to rotate the strike, leading to an ill-timed shot. Rohit advanced down the pitch to face Ravindra, who slightly adjusted his length and generated enough turn to evade Rohit's bat. Tom Latham, positioned behind the stumps, swiftly dislodged the bails.

Following the drinks break, India lost three wickets in just 8.1 overs, managing only 19 runs. From a strong position of 103 without loss, they found themselves at 122 for three, facing significant pressure.

At the 30-over mark, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel were at the crease with scores of 19 and 4, respectively, as India required an additional 116 runs within the remaining 20 overs.

Earlier, New Zealand was limited to a total of 251 for 7, thanks to the Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 40) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2 for 45), who delivered a commendable performance in the final match.

Mitchell was the top scorer for New Zealand, amassing 63 runs off 101 balls, while Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips contributed 53 not out, 37, and 34 runs, respectively.

Read Also: "I Was Shi*** Myself": KL Rahul's Unfiltered Reaction After Champions Trophy Win

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