New Delhi: India and New Zealand will lock horns in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the winning team will be seen wearing white jackets during the post-match presentation, in line with a unique tradition of the tournament.
Team India was previously dressed in the jackets in 2013 after defeating England to lift the trophy—a memory it intends to replicate Sunday.
Each winning team member of the Champions Trophy is presented with a white blazer. The International Cricket Council says on its website, “The white jacket is a badge of honour adorned by champions. It embodies the relentless pursuit of tactical brilliance and a legacy that inspires generations. Winning the white jacket signifies the journey of putting it all on the line for victory.”
The inaugural Champions Trophy was held in 1998, but the tradition of presenting white jackets to the winners began only in 2009, when Australia won the tournament in South Africa. Since its introduction, the jacket has become symbolic of the tournament.
The iconic white jacket is back! #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/qcPLDU93PJ
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2025
The origins of this tradition are unclear, but some Cricket fans say that it may have been inspired by customs from other sports, such as the green jacket awarded at The Masters Tournament in Golf, and the all-white attire worn at Wimbledon.
#OnThisDay in 2013, India won the ICC Champions Trophy! Watch the top moments of their triumph in the final against England! #CT13 pic.twitter.com/cTxIU5oqv8
— ICC (@ICC) June 23, 2017
Other rewards for CT winners
Apart from being draped in the white jacket, the tournament winners also receive a trophy and a cash prize.
The winners of the 2025 Champions Trophy will receive a cash prize of $2.24 million. This is part of a significantly hiked total prize pool, which has grown by 53 percent since the 2017 edition.
The runners-up will receive $1.12 million, while each of the losing semi-finalists took home $560,000. Additional earnings included over $34,000 per group stage win and a guaranteed $125,000 participation fee per team.
“Beyond the financial incentive, this tournament ignites fierce competition, captivates fans worldwide, and plays a vital role in fostering the growth and long-term sustainability of cricket for future generations,” said ICC president Jay Shah in an official statement.
The 2025 Champions Trophy commenced on 19 February with the top eight teams according to ICC rankings, and will now conclude Sunday with its final match, the 15th ODI. The event was hosted across Pakistan and the UAE, with India playing all its matches in Dubai.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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