Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is very happy with India’s super show in the Champions Trophy 2025 that culminated with the title win on Sunday (March 9) in Dubai. In the summit clash played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India chased down the target of 252 runs in 49 overs for the loss of six wickets to become Champions Trophy winners for the record-extending third time. Impressed by Team India’s performance in the eight-team tournament, which was played across three venues in Pakistan and one in Dubai, Ashwin said that the current India team can dominate the world like Australia did in the 1990s and 2000s. “I think the world cricketing fraternity will take some time to catch up with the Indian team if we go on with this flow,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel. “In the future it will be a huge advantage for India’s next generation. India can replicate what Australia did in the 90s and till 2010. India have that arsenal and infrastructure,” he added. The 38-year-old cricketer, who called time on his international career last year, praised India’s bowling and credited them for the Champions Trophy win. “We just need to remind everyone that we have not won because of the batting; it was because of our bowling. Please look after the bowlers. From the grassroots level, we must encourage the bowlers,” he said. “There was no Jasprit Bumrah, and we won the trophy without Jasprit Bumrah. Isn’t it amazing? What does it tell you about Indian cricket? I am so very happy. This particular CT is completely dedicated to the bowlers. Without Jasprit Bumrah, we won. Hats off to the bowlers.” Ashwin, who is India’s second highest wicket-taker in international cricket, feels Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy are confirmed starters for India in the T20 World Cup 2026. “In the 2026 World T20 team, write the names of Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy, and then pick your squad. It will be one hell of an attack.” The member of the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning team feels India would have won many ICC tournaments in the past as well but missed out due to bad luck. “I always felt that luck was not going our way all this year when it comes to the ICC events. We were always a quality side. In the last ten years we could have won more. The 2017 CT final was a par score at the Oval; we didn’t win. The 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, we lost the final against Sri Lanka. But this feeling is amazing,” he said. “I have said this after we won the T20 World Cup that now we are going to win two or three on the bounce. I was a bit nervous, but I was confident. It was written all over; it was New Zealand who were under pressure,” he added. Ashwin said he is very happy for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was facing a lot of pressure after India lost back-to-back Test series under his mentorship. “I am so happy for Rohit and GG (Gautam Gambhir). Especially for GG, imagine what he must be going through. We lost the home series against New Zealand. But he took a brave decision, replacing Jasprit Bumrah with Varun Chakaravarthy.” The decision to include Chakaravarthy in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad paid dividends for India, and the 33-year-old finished the tournament with 9 wickets in the three matches.