India wins the Champions Trophy for the record third time after defeating New Zealand in the big event hosted by Pakistan.

DUBAI: India made history on Sunday by winning the ICC Champions Trophy for the third time with a dramatic four-wicket triumph against New Zealand in the tournament’s final, hosted by Pakistan.

India added to their trophies in 2002 and 2013 to surpass Australia, which has two titles.

India, the world’s best one-day international squad, went undefeated in an eight-nation tournament held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

India has played all of their matches in Dubai after refusing to travel hosts Pakistan owing to political sensitivities, and they have gone undefeated there in four games.

Set to chase 252, the 2013 winners comfortably scored the winning runs with six wickets and six balls remaining.

The men in blue got off to a flying start in the chase, with skipper Sharma and top-ranked ODI batsman Shubman Gill putting on a 105-run stand.

Sharma controlled the first stand, but Gill held tight at the other end until falling to Mitchell Santner, thanks to a superb catch by Glenn Phillips at short cover.

The top ODI batsman scored 31 runs off 50 deliveries, including one six.

India then lost two more wickets in short succession, with Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra dismissing Virat Kohli and Virat Sharma, respectively.

Kohli scored only one run, while Sharma remained India’s leading scorer with an 83-ball 76 that included seven fours and three sixes.

Following the brief top-order collapse, Axar Patel joined Shreyas Iyer in the middle and stabilised the run chase with a 61-run partnership until both fell in the space of 16 balls.

Iyer hit two fours and as many sixes on his way to a 62-ball 48, while Patel scored 29 off 40 deliveries.

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul then put together a 38-run partnership in only six overs to put India within striking distance, but Kyle Jamieson dismissed the former to raise a stir.

However, Rahul remained composed and led India to victory with an unbeaten 34 off 33 deliveries.

For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner and Bracewell each grabbed two wickets, while Ravindra and Jamieson each took one.

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner’s choice to bat first backfired, as his batting squad managed just 251/7 in their allocated overs, despite Daryl Mitchell’s half-century.

The Blackcaps got off to a flying start in their innings, with openers Will Young and Rachin Ravindra putting up a quick 57-run partnership.

Ravindra was the main aggressor in the opening stand, while Young batted carefully before falling to Varun Chakravarthy in the eighth over. He scored 15 points from 23 deliveries.

Kuldeep Yadav then provided India back-to-back breakthroughs by dismissing set batter Ravindra and seasoned Kane Williamson in consecutive overs, reducing New Zealand to 75/3 in 12.2 overs.

Ravindra hit four fours and a six on his way to a 29-ball 37, while Williamson scored 11 off 14.

Mitchell, batting at number four, led New Zealand’s batting expedition with a careful half-century.

He formed key partnerships with in-form Glenn Phillips (34) and Michael Bracewell before succumbing to Mohammed Shami in the 46th over.

Mitchell remained New Zealand’s leading scorer with 63 from 101 deliveries, including three boundaries.

Bracewell, on the other hand, batted all the way through, scoring an undefeated 53 off 40 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.

For India, Yadav and Chakravarthy each took two wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Shami both took one.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, and Nathan Smith