Champions Trophy: 'I was sh**ting myself,' KL Rahul says after final win

India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul made a bold statement about the nerve-racking ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, where India edged past New Zealand in a tense finish.

Speaking after the thrilling four-wicket win in Dubai, Rahul said, "I don't think I can say this on camera, but I was s**ing myself at the end. But we still had a couple of batters to come, so I was confident that we could get over the line."

He emphasised the importance of staying composed in high-stakes matches.

"In moments like this and big games, it's more about holding your composure, which we all know about. It's not easy, but I'm happy to win this and happy to get over the line this time," he said.

The 32-year-old played a crucial role in India's campaign, often finding himself in high-pressure situations. 

"I think I've batted in times like this in three out of the five games. And one of the games I didn't get to bat at all, against Pakistan," he added.

Rahul credited his time throughout the tournament for preparing him for the grand finale.

"The game's given me a good time in the middle and a good time to prepare for a big moment like this. It's hard to put in words, but it's just pure skill and the way we've all played our cricket growing up," he added.

He highlighted the role of India's cricketing system in shaping players for such crucial moments.

"We've had to face a lot of challenges. We've had to face pressure from the time we held the bat and from the time we decided to be professional cricketers," he remarked.

Rahul also praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for nurturing talent and providing a strong foundation for players to thrive under pressure. "I think it's just the first-class cricket, BCCI, how they've groomed every player, every talented player that comes around. They're giving us opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills, put ourselves under pressure, keep challenging ourselves, and get better."

India secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title, adding to their previous victories in 2002 and 2013.