Cricket enthusiasts are thrilled as the Champions Trophy returns after 8 years. This unique tournament is hosted in Pakistan over 20 days, marking a special occasion in the world of cricket. Remarkably, Pakistan last co-hosted the World Cup in 1996 with India and Sri Lanka. This ICC event follows a 'hybrid model,' meaning India will play all its matches in Dubai. If India reaches the finals, it won't be staged in Pakistan despite being the co-host.
Source: aajtak
The History of Champions Trophy: A Successful Journey for India
The Champions Trophy has a storied past, debuting as the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998. By 2002, it was rebranded as the ICC Champions Trophy. The competition features only 8 top teams, including Australia, India, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and South Africa.
The 2013 edition was particularly noteworthy for India. The team introduced a fresh playing dynamic, achieving what many others couldn't with seasoned players. This victory not only brought glory but also spotlighted emerging talents who reshaped Indian cricket.
No Place for Gambhir and Yuvraj
In 2013, Indian cricket legends like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan were prominent faces. Yet, Captain MS Dhoni was keen on nurturing a youthful team capable of clinching big matches. Sehwag didn’t return post the Hyderabad test against Australia. Yuvraj and Gambhir struggled with form, while Harbhajan lacked rhythm. Dhoni ingeniously assembled a new team.
On May 4, 2013, the final Indian squad featured surprise entries like wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay. Shikhar Dhawan, after a stellar Test debut against Australia, earned his place in the ODI team. With Virat Kohli as vice-captain and Suresh Raina thriving in the middle order, the team also saw the selection of Rohit Sharma, despite his modest ODI performances.
All-rounders R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Irfan Pathan made the cut with a youthful bowling lineup featuring Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra, supported by newcomers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, and Vinay Kumar.
India's Squad for Champions Trophy 2013:
MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar.
Captain Dhoni addressed the media in Birmingham before the tournament commenced on June 6, 2013. Questions ranged from player selection to the IPL 2013 match-fixing scandal. Gurunath Mayappan, the Chennai Super Kings’ owner, faced direct allegations and was arrested along with Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh. Although instructed to stick to Champions Trophy questions, journalists tactically broached match-fixing, which Dhoni deftly navigated, akin to dodging a bouncer.
Source: aajtak
New Team, Renewed Spirit, Unyielding Desire to Win
The tournament opened with India challenging South Africa, showcasing a new opening pair against their formidable bowling attack. Making his opening debut, Rohit Sharma teamed effectively with Shikhar Dhawan. Their 100-run first-wicket partnership laid the foundation for an easy Indian victory, prominently supported by Dhawan's splendid 114-run innings.
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Next, India faced the explosive batting prowess of the West Indies, featuring stars like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard. India's less experienced bowlers impressively restricted them to 233, and India chased the target without much ado, topping their pool group.
The much-anticipated match against Pakistan was next, with global fans watching closely. Unfortunately, Pakistan didn’t win any matches during the tournament. In their final league game, India bowled Pakistan out for just 165, winning the match comfortably by 8 wickets. Standing out as India’s top performers were Ravindra Jadeja and Shikhar Dhawan.
In the semi-final, England had overcome South Africa. India faced Sri Lanka, managing to restrain them to 181 with significant contributions from Ishant Sharma and R. Ashwin. Continuing his stellar form, Shikhar Dhawan helped secure an 8-wicket victory, guiding India to the finals.
Rain Threatens Final, Yet India Shows Its Mettle
The Indian team defied expectations by reaching the final on June 23, 2013, in Birmingham, despite being initially underrated. As the stadium buzzed with anticipation, heavy rains interrupted, reducing the match to a 20-over showdown. Memories of the 2002 rain-affected final haunted fans, though this match reached a conclusion.
England, winning the toss, opted to bowl first. Historically, Dhoni hadn’t fared well in ICC final tosses, except for the 2007 T20 World Cup. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan approached the innings, but Sharma fell early. Shikhar, however, maintained his momentum alongside Kohli. After Dhawan's dismissal, the innings faltered as middle-order batsmen fell cheaply. Yet, Jadeja provided timely support to Kohli, leading India to 129.
England's Easy Target, India's Steely Resolve
England’s required 130 runs seemed manageable, but modern cricket often flips expectations. Dhoni, aware of this, motivated his team to remain focused and resilient, believing in their current form’s supremacy.
His pep talk energized the Indian bowlers, who seized crucial wickets, particularly Bell and Trott, thanks to Dhoni's strategic brilliance. At 50 runs, England had lost 4 wickets. Ravi Bopara and Morgan reignited England's chase, bringing them close, but Dhoni’s decision to bowl Ishant Sharma turned the tide. Sharma, till then uneconomical, struck gold with back-to-back wickets, bolstering India’s defense.
With 14 runs needed in the final over, Ashwin delivered under Dhoni’s guidance. He justified the trust, securing a narrow 5-run victory for India, earning his captain’s final ICC trophy. Ravindra Jadeja earned Player of the Match (33* & 2/24), while series top performer Shikhar Dhawan claimed the Player of the Series accolade (363 runs).
This memorable tournament reshaped Indian cricket, establishing a formidable opening duo in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. It propelled stars like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the cricketing forefront, as they continue contributing to India's cricketing legacy. As the 2025 Champions Trophy approaches, Indian fans are eager to see Rohit Sharma lead the team to another glorious victory.
Indian Squad for the Next Champions Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar.
Non-Traveling Substitutes:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube
Champions Trophy Group Details:
Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, BangladeshGroup B: South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England
Complete Schedule:
Feb 19 - Pakistan vs. New Zealand, KarachiFeb 20 - Bangladesh vs. India, DubaiFeb 21 - Afghanistan vs. South Africa, KarachiFeb 22 - Australia vs. England, LahoreFeb 23 - Pakistan vs. India, DubaiFeb 24 - Bangladesh vs. New Zealand, RawalpindiFeb 25 - Australia vs. South Africa, RawalpindiFeb 26 - Afghanistan vs. England, LahoreFeb 27 - Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, RawalpindiFeb 28 - Afghanistan vs. Australia, LahoreMar 1 - South Africa vs. England, KarachiMar 2 - New Zealand vs. India, DubaiMar 4 - Semi-final 1, DubaiMar 5 - Semi-final 2, LahoreMar 9 - Final, Lahore (if India reaches, played in Dubai)Mar 10 - Reserve Day
