Elegant blazers and ecstatic festivities: A look at India’s Champions Trophy triumph.
Even hours after the champagne was opened, lively Punjabi music filled the stadium and many selfies were taken. The party in Dubai was still going strong. The joy of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy win had taken over the city, and hundreds of fans gathered outside the team hotel hoping to see their favorite stars—those wearing white coats and medals.
Some fans eventually left happily after taking selfies with supporters like Sudhir and Ram Babu, while many stayed around the hotel, hoping for even one glimpse of the star players.
Nearly three hours after the fireworks at Dubai International Stadium, a big party began away from the city’s hustle and bustle. The younger players danced happily, while the senior players enjoyed the moment with their families and loved ones.
Loud chants could be heard from afar when Team India’s bus, escorted by police cars, reached a fancy hotel around 11 pm in a busy area near the famous Burj Khalifa.
The hotel staff had a tough job because the fans were eager to see the players. Still, they managed well by hiding the entrance so the players could enter without any trouble.
Fireworks and a shower of flowers welcomed the players, and soon they went to their rooms without the fans noticing. The chants continued and the Indian flag was waved with great energy, but the fans’ repeated calls went unheard.
“Sir, please call them out to the balcony. We have been waiting for a long time,” pleaded the fans to the Indian security guard at the main entrance.
“Go home, they will rest now. They will eat, drink, and have fun. They will not come out now,” he replied. Yet, this answer was not enough for the hundreds waiting near the drop-off point.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s wife Ritika and daughter, Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka, Ravindra Jadeja’s family, and Mohammed Shami’s family were all at the ground before the presentation ceremony started. Everyone’s mobile phones were busy capturing these memorable moments.
Away from the crowd, soon after receiving his medal and white blazer, Hardik Pandya stepped away and struck his famous pose with the trophy on the field. His teammates soon joined him, and then everyone sat down for more photos.
Near the boundary, Gautam Gambhir took on the challenge of reciting shayari with former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who even got the head coach to do some bhangra during their short chat.
Meanwhile, Virat and Rohit started dancing dandiya with the stumps, and the Indian captain’s two-line comment that followed quickly went viral on social media.
There were many interviews afterward, and the players—who had given their all in the past few weeks in Dubai—wore expressions of deep satisfaction.
The Indian cricket team landed in Dubai on February 15. Their unbeaten run in the tournament earned them their second ICC title in two years and their third Champions Trophy overall, along with priceless memories.
The party surely continued in the team hotel after hours, but everyone made sure to get a good sleep before catching their flight back home on March 10.
