For British media India was the best team, deserved winners

London: British media on Monday lauded India for claiming the Champions Trophy, describing Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s men as the most "vibrant" side and "deserved" winners of the prestigious title.

India eked out a tense five-run win over the hosts to win the last edition of the tournament. Almost all the British newspapers hailed all round show of the Indian team throughout the tournament. "India`s marriage of styles produces deserved victory over England at Edgbaston," read the `Daily Telegraph` headline. "The best team won in the end. India had the most power with the bat, the most agility in the field and the most variety with the ball," it goes on to add. `The Guardian` began its report with these words,"India, unquestionably the most vibrant side in the tournament, won the Champions Trophy." `The Times` blamed the result on England`s tendency to choke in an all too familiar final failure. However, on a slightly kinder note, it pointed to possible team fatigue. "However lame this sounds, England were still involved in a One-Day International against New Zealand roughly 12 hours before the start of the Champions Trophy, and will face them again in the first of two Twenty20 games at the Oval. Too much cricket ? heard that one before," the newspaper wrote. England`s fifth defeat in a world final will go down as the hardest of all to stomach, as articulated by captain Alastair Cook. "We got close. It is a tough pill to swallow at the moment. There are six other teams who would have loved to have been in this final. A lot of good things and performances came out of the tournament for us but at the moment we are a bit devastated. We will move on as a side and get better," he said, following the drubbing which also meant throwing away the chance to end England`s long wait for a first global One-Day trophy. PTI