Dubai, March 10: After India’s thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday, Virat Kohli shared a warm and emotional hug with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, at the Dubai International Stadium.
The couple took a brief celebratory moment on the stairs before heading onto the ground to join the team celebrations for India’s third Champions Trophy title. Their hug was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, with fans showering their love on the couple.
Anushka has been a strong supporter of the Indian team throughout the tournament, often seen cheering from the stands. During previous matches, Kohli and Anushka also shared flying kisses and affectionate moments.
This win marked India’s fourth consecutive ICC final in less than two years. The Rohit Sharma-led team secured their second consecutive ICC title, following their T20 World Cup victory in 2024. For Virat Kohli, it was his fourth ICC title, alongside captain Rohit Sharma, making the duo the most successful Indian players in terms of ICC titles after MS Dhoni.
Rohit Sharma’s 76-run knock set the tone for India’s chase of 252, while Shreyas Iyer’s 48 and K.L. Rahul’s unbeaten 34 guided India across the line with one over to spare. Axar Patel (29) and Hardik Pandya (18) also made important contributions to India’s thrilling win.
After the match, Kohli expressed his confidence in India’s future, saying the team is ready to dominate world cricket for the next eight years.
“It’s been amazing. We wanted to bounce back after a tough Australian tour and win a big tournament. Winning the Champions Trophy feels amazing. The talent in the dressing room is incredible, and we’re happy to share our experience to help the team grow. This is what makes this Indian team strong,” Kohli said after the match.
“These are the moments you play for – stepping up under pressure. Everyone has contributed at different times during the tournament. We’ve worked hard in practice, and winning feels great.”
“When you leave, you want to leave the team in a better place, and I feel we have a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next 8 years. Shubman has been amazing, Shreyas has played top knocks, KL has finished games, and Hardik has been fantastic with the bat,” he added.
