Champions Trophy, Cricket
From The Times of India
Note: The feats of the Indian batsmen who have been mentioned at x.4 (and thereafter) under every tournament do not belong to that tournament alone. It is just that that tournament was memorable for that batsman.
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
How it all began
Gaurav Gupta| Batting out of an identity crisis| May 26 2017| The Times of India (Delhi)
Since Its Inception, Champions Trophy Has Had To Assert Its Standing. But Cricket's Been Enchanting
Jagmohan Dalmiya was fondly called by many in cricket ad ministrative circles as `Dollar miya' for a good reason. In 1998, as the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Dalmiya devised the ICC KnockOut Trophy Wills International Cup (tobacco companies could sponsor sporting events those days). It was a global tournament much inferior in stature to a World Cup, but had enough potential to generate funds for a cash-starved cricket body .
The aim was simple: Generate funds to help develop cricket in associate nations. Dalmiya's vision was to globalise a sport played only by a handful of countries. The inaugural edition held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, involved the eight top cricket-playing countries of the world.
It's indeed ironic that about t It's indeed ironic that about two decades later, as the eighth edition of the tournament kicks off in England from June 1, there is no West Indies; instead you have Bangladesh, who didn't play in their `home' event because they weren't eligible, despite having qualified for the 1999 World Cup and winning the 1997 ICC Associates' Trophy .
Sachin Tendulkar, then at the prime of his career, slammed 141 and then took 4-38 to single-handedly script India's 44-run win in the `third quarterfinal' over Australia.That joy , however, was short-lived as they lost to Windies in the semis. The inaugural tournament remains the only major cricket triumph for South Africa, more famous for `choking' at big times, crucially under Hansie Cronje, before he was sensationally named as the sport's leading matchfixer two years later.
In 2000, re-christened as the ICC Champions Trophy, the format was changed from knockouts to league-play to enable top teams to stay longer. Hosted by Kenya, it saw the emergence of a young and fearless India, powered by the arrival of Yuvraj Singh. They reached the final, before being upset by a Chris Cairns-inspired New Zealand.
Sri Lanka 2002 saw Sourav Ganguly's India, riding on youth and power, gallop all the way to the final, where they had to share honours with the hosts after the final was washed off. Even as India crashed out in the league stage in 2004 in England, the pair of West Indies tail-enders Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw provided a thrilling finale in a memorable, unbeaten 71-run partnership for the eighth wicket against England at the Oval.
Things, however, had changed when a reluctant India hosted it in 2006. The BCCI officials' main grudge now was that all the money from the event was flowing into the ICC coffers with India gaining little or nothing from it. Worse, the hosts were knocked out before the semis, reducing further interest to a zilch.
By the time the next edition in South Africa in 2009, ODI cricket itself was struggling for existence with the advent of the faster-paced Twenty20. India again failed to reach last four, and a concerned ICC decided that the 2013 edition in England would be the last. At that point, the mandarins in the ICC seemed keen on a World Test championship in the hope to make Test cricket interesting and relevant.
But that didn't work as India struggled badly in Tests in Australia and England in 2011-2012 and there was a fear that they make not even make the cut-off for the final four teams, or even six, for the Test championship. Without India, it would be difficult to find sponsors for a format where the TV ratings and crowd attend ance were dwindling in most countries.
It was in this scenario that MS Dhoni's India, already the ODI world champions in the 2011 tournament at home, won the Champions Trophy in England in 2013.
The impact of this triumph was the sur vival of a tournament which many still feel is a niggling fixture in the calendar in this day and age where T20 cricket rules roost, a gruelling but wildly-followed 45-day IPL being a case in point.
There are still many critics of the Champions Trophy in the Indian board. India is to host the 2021 edition, but if the ICC's proposed ODI league, designed to make bilateral ODI cricket more relevant, kicks off by 2019, then the future of the Champions will become uncertain.
However, even though ODIs feel sort of `old-fashioned' in the T20 age, few things do go in favour of this tourna ment. Unlike the World Cup, it's much shorter and crisper in duration -this edition will last 18 days -and pits only the top teams against each other.
With tickets for the June 4 clash between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston being sold out within just half-hour, it tells you that this tournament may just live on.
Interestingly, conceptualised to gener ate funds for newer cricket pastures, the Champions Trophy may just end up pro ducing revenue which may be critical for the survival of some of the once-powerful but struggling cricketing centres like the West Indies and Pakistan, left in dire straits financially due to lack of international cricket at home.
Do the cricketers want to play in it?
India coach Anil Kumble's suggestion to the BCCI, at the height of the recent tussle between the board and the ICC, that the team didn't want to boycott the event, gives a fair indication of how much it matters to the players. The Champions Trophy, as India skipper Virat Kohli said on eve of the team's departure, is more competitive than the WC, and clearly, every international cricketer worth his salt would want to be tested against the best.
1998
Host: Bangladesh
The 50-over tournament was launched with the first two editions called the ‘ICC Knockout’. The inaugural edition was officially named the Wills International Cup.
The tournament, held from October 24 to November 1, saw South Africa winning their first and till date their only ICC event. Hansie Cronje’s side downed Sri Lanka by 92 runs (D/L) in the semi-final, and riding on Jacques Kallis’ all-round show, got the better of West Indies in the final. With 164 runs and eight wickets in three games, Kallis won the Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Tournament awards.
Special Mention:
Innings of the tournament - Sachin Tendulkar’s 141 against Australia.
The way he played Michael Kasprowicz and Co was breathtaking. His innings was studded with 13 fours and three sixes.
1998- South Africa grab a convincing win
In the final of the inaugural edition, it was South Africa and West Indies who were up against each other in Dhaka. Hansie Cronje’s South Africa won the toss and they decided to bowl. The South African bowlers didn’t disappoint their captain either as they scalped an early breakthrough in the form of Clayton Lambert who was undone by Steve Elworthy for 7. But Wallace and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had different ideas. The two compiled a stand of 76 runs for the second wicket before Chanderpaul was trapped in front of the stumps by Nicky Boje for 27. Wickets kept tumbling on the other end but it didn’t effect Philo Wallace who stood strong and scored a hundred to anchor his team to a total of 245 in 49.3 overs. Jacques Kallis went through West Indies middle and lower order to pick up 5 wickets during the course. Daryll Cullinan and Mike Rindel began the proceedings for South Africa in a sensible fashion and put on 54 runs for the first wicket. But South Africa lost two wickets in quick succession and later lost Kallis when the team score read 118. Later Proteas captain Cronje took the responsibility and guided his side to a 4-wicket win in the final. He remained unbeaten at 61.
India at the Wills International Cup 1998
The inaugural edition of the tournament featured eight teams. India's campaign opened with a fixture against Australia where Sachin Tendulkar continued his marvellous batting against the Aussies by single-handedly dominated with a match-winning 141 off 128 deliveries. India piled up 307 to which Australia fell short by 44 runs. Their next game against West Indies was the semi-final which the team lost thanks to some superb bowling by pacer Mervyn Dillon who sent Tendulkar and skipper Mohammad Azharuddin back cheaply. Brian Lara (60) along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (74) made a target of 242 look easy and crossed it in 47 overs with six wickets remaining.
Champions Trophy finals, 1998
See graphic.
From The Times of India
2000
Host: Kenya
For the second consecutive time, India’s first game was against the mighty Australia, captained by Steve Waugh. A 80-ball 84 from debutant Yuvraj Singh guided India to a 20-run upset win and knocked out the world champions.
In the semi-final, new skipper Sourav Ganguly’s 141 (against South Africa) left India one step from glory while Shayne O’Connor and Roger Twose’s brilliance sealed the deal for New Zealand against Pakistan.
In the final, Chris Cairns’ unbeaten 102 with a dodgy knee upstaged Ganguly’s 117 as the Kiwis, for the only time, won an ICC event. The victory was made sweeter as they had major injury issues during the tournament. Cairns, Daniel Vettori and Dion Nash missed the semi-final but the others stepped up to the plate as they went on to be crowned champions.
2000- Chris Cairns steals victory New Zealand
India in this edition of ICC Knockout tournament found two new heroes in the form of Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan. One emerged to be a swashbuckling striker of the cricket ball while another had the ability to rip apart the opposition batting. But despite of a fantastic run in 2000 edition, India missed out on lifting the trophy when they were beaten by New Zealand in the final in Nairobi. Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming put India into bat and the Indian batting responded pretty well in the beginning. Captain Sourav Ganguly and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, one of the most destructive batting pairs of their time compiled a partnership of 141 runs for the first wicket. Tendulkar scored 69 while Ganguly smashed a hundred on the course. But no other batsman showed any resistance to New Zealand bowling and India were restricted to 264/6. The bowlers though started off with some scintillating stuff and got a couple of early breakthrough. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals for Fleming’s side and they were reduced to 132/5. India seemed to be the favourites of lifting the title now but as they say a cricket match isn’t over till the last ball is bowled. All-rounder Chris Cairns took up the challenge and played a riveting knock of 102* while on the other side it was Chris Harris who chipped in with 46. Prasad though eventually got his wicket but it came pretty late for India. New Zealand riding on Cairns’ hundred won the match by 4 wickets.
India at the ICC Knockout 2000
The new millennium dawned upon Indian cricket under a new leader in Sourav Ganguly. The tournament was held in Kenya and marked emphatic debuts from Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh. Indian made short work of Kenya in the league game registering a comfortable eight-wicket win with Zaheer picking up three wickets in his debut outing. The quarter-final against then world champions Australia was a closely fought contest and had many unforgettable instances.
Tendulkar's brutal assault on Glenn McGrath derailed the Aussie bowlers early on in the innings, which paved the way for Yuvraj's memorable 84* in his debut innings. Zaheer then produced a picture-perfect yorker to dismiss skipper Steve Waugh which finally sealed the match in India's favour. Next up, India beat defending champions South Africa by 95 run thanks largely to Ganguly's unbeaten 141 and some excellent seam bowling from Zaheer. Going into their first final, India squared off against New Zealand who were coming off 65 and four-run victories against Zimbabwe and Pakistan respectively. Ganguly continued his magnificent run with 117 but it was the Kiwi allrounder Chris Cairns who came out as the real star with an outstanding 102*. Coming in at 109 for 4, Cairns Chris added 122 runs for the sixth wicket with Chris Harris and guided New Zealand home in a tight finish.
Champions Trophy finals, 2000
See graphic.
From The Times of India
Sourav Ganguly (665 runs in 13 matches)
Sourav Ganguly played in only two matches at the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998 and managed to get a half-century in the semi-final. By the time the second edition of the tournament would roll out, he had been appointed as the captain in the wake of the match-fixing controversy.
In what was only his second tournament as the captain of the Indian team, Ganguly outshone everyone with his superb performances with the bat whilst leading a young side that had debutants in the form of Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh. In the first match against Kenya, he scored 66 to help India chase down a meagre total. After failing to trouble the scorers much in the game against Australia, he finished the tournament in style with back-to-back centuries - an unbeaten 141 in the semi-final and an 117 in the final.
In 2002, he scored yet another unbeaten century in the semi-final against England. Overall, he amassed 665 runs in 13 matches at a striking average of 73.88, thus becoming the fourth-highest run-getter. In addition to that, he has also hit the maximum sixes (17) in Champions Trophy.
2002
Host: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka were in magnificent form in the group stage, and after crushing Australia in the semifinal, a second ICC tournament win was on the cards.
Sourav Ganguly-led India, after defeating Zimbabwe and England, pulled off a win over South Africa to reach their second ICC Champions Trophy final. Virender Sehwag’s three-wicket haul and Yuvraj Singh’s acrobatics helped India to a 10-run win after Shaun Pollock’s men were 194/1 in the 38th over chasing 262. With Sri Lanka proving a tough nut to crack, an enthralling final was on its way.
But rain played spoilsport in the final, including the reserve day after the game was started afresh, and India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners. Sehwag finished as the leading run-getter (271) while Muttiah Muralitharan was the highest wicket-taker (10).
2002- Rain washes out India’s dream
ICC Champions Trophy had now arrived to Sri Lanka and it was the two Asian giants, India and hosts Sri Lanka who locked horns in finals. But this edition of the Champions Trophy had to settle down with an unusual result when the trophy was shared between the two sides after both the finals in Colombo were washed out due to rain.
In the first final, Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss and scored 244/5 in 50 overs. Captain Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 74 runs while wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara scored 54. For India it was Harbhajan Singh who emerged to be the pick of the bowlers after getting 3 wickets in the process. India’s openers Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Mogia began the innings. Sehwag began with his natural game when the match was halted by rain. India were 14/0 in 2 overs at that time. No further play took place and the match was called off.
The second final took place on the next day (reserve day) and it was again Jayasuriya who opted to bat first. This time he was cleaned up for a golden duck by Zaheer. Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals and it was only Russel Arnold who scored a half century. Sri Lanka managed 222/7 in 50 overs this time. India’s chase went on for a longer time on this occasion but unfortunately was never concluded. India were 38/1 in 8.4 overs when the covers came on and the match was eventually called off.
India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2002
Sri Lanka hosted the third installment of the tournament. With five months to go for the 2003 World Cup, India saw this as the ideal platform to gear up for the extravaganza. They were high on confidence with the Natwest Final behind their back a couple months earlier. Playing without a sponsor, India started off on a positive note against Zimbabwe riding on Mohammad Kaif's maiden ODI century. His 111* came at a time when India were in a spot of bother having lost five wickets for 87. In reply, Zimbabwe tried hard but couldn't get past the line despite Andy Flower's 145.
The 11 match saw India make a mockery of England's total of 269. Virender Sehwag, who was beginning to make a mark in world cricket, was in murderous form and was sent up the order to open the innings with skipper Ganguly. Both openers scored hundreds and went on a rampage smashing the English bowlers all over the Premadasa. Ganguly (126) and Sehwag's (117*) helped India chase down the target in just 39.3 overs and book a semi-final birth.
South Africa had played some inspiring cricket themselves and facing them in the semis was a tough nut to crack. India started their innings with Sehwag once again getting into the thick of things scoring 59 and later Yuvraj's 62 helped put up a competitive 261. South Africa began the chase well and were soaring at 192 for 1 but once Herschelle Gibbs (117) left the field due to dehydration and cramps, South Africa slumped to 247 for 5. Sehwag picked up three wickets which allowed India to hold their nerves and make their second successive Champions Trophy final. Rain played spoil-sport in the final which was contested twice and India were declared joint-winners with Sri Lanka.
Champions Trophy finals, 2002
See graphic.
From The Times of India
Virender Sehwag (389 runs in 10 matches)
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag was a part of India’s Champions Trophy squad on three occasions, in 2002, in 2004 and in 2006. India, of course, were the joint winners in the 2002 edition but in 2004 and also in 2006, they were ousted in the group stages.
Sehwag’s performance, however, had always been top notch. In the 10 Champions Trophy matches he had featured in, the attacking batsman had amassed 389 runs at an average of 48.62. His best, though, came in the group-stage match against England back in 2002. Chasing an imposing target of 270, Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly gave India a terrific start.
Sehwag would go in to smash 126 runs off just 104 balls, an innings laced with 21 fours and one six. He scored another half-century, this time against South Africa and eventually finished as the highest run-getter of the tournament. The next two editions, however, were not so memorable for him.
Sachin Tendulkar (441 runs in 16 matches)
It is impossible to not find Sachin Tendulkar’s name in any list of most prolific Indian batsmen, such are the run-scoring feats of the great one. Arguably the best batsman to have ever played the sport, Tendulkar was not always at his best at the so-called Mini World Cup.
Just one of his 49 centuries in ODIs came at the ICC Champions Trophy. In 16 matches, he scored 441 runs at an average of 36.75. However, his knock of 141 in the quarter-final match against Australia in 1998 is still one his most memorable innings. Coming into bat at a time when India had already lost two crucial wickets, Tendulkar took on the Aussie bowlers and helped India cross the 300-mark.
In response, Australia could only reach 263, thanks to some inspiring spin bowling from the great man himself. That India won the trophy in 2002, would have no doubt eased his pain of not scoring enough runs in the tournament.
Rahul Dravid (627 runs in 19 matches)
Rahul Dravid, widely regarded as one of the most technically sound batsmen ever, was an integral member of India’s squad in as many as six Champions Trophy campaigns from 1998 to 2009. And, in those campaigns, he played in 19 matches amassing 627 runs in the process at an average of 48.23.
Dravid would bat at various positions, in accordance with the requirement of the team. However, that never deterred his resolve or hunger to score runs. What strikes though is how unfortunate he had been at the Champions Trophy tournaments, having been run out on six of the 13 occasions he was dismissed.
Having played the most number of matches among Indians in the tournament, he definitely would have been more prolific had lady luck favoured him. Nevertheless, he is still the sixth-highest run-getter in the history of the tournament and the second-most successful Indian batsman.
2004
Host: England
Twelve teams competed in 15 matches played within 15 days and the final was played between the hosts and West Indies.
Marcus Trescothick’s well-compiled 104 and Ashley Giles’ 31 propelled England to 217. In reply, the Windies lost wickets at regular intervals and were reeling at 147/8. Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw came to the rescue and their unbeaten 71-run partnership left Michael Vaughan’s side gutted as West Indies lifted their first Champions Trophy title with seven balls to spare.
The triumph was just what Caribbean cricket needed, something they had never expected with the kind of form they were in coming into the tournament.
2004- England lose another major final
The 2004 Champions Trophy final took place in London. West Indies were in their second final of the Champions Trophy while hosts England were playing their first. Brian Lara after winning the toss invited the hosts to bat first. Riding on Marcus Trescothik’s 104, England managed a total of 217 in 49.4 overs. The English bowlers took a great advantage of home conditions to begin the proceedings well after they got Wavel Hinds’ wicket when the score read 19. England kept troubling the Caribbean batting line up to reduce them to 135/7 and later left them tottering at 147/8. England were now hopeful of lifting a major ICC title but Ian Bradshaw and Browne decided to write a different script. The two remained unbeaten in a partnership of 71 runs for the ninth wicket. Left-handed Bradshaw finished things off in style when he smashed a four through the cover region and celebrated the win in a typical Calypso manner.
India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2004
India had an unforgettable World Cup campaign the previous year and many expected the team to continue the good work from South Africa. But it was not to be. India's opener against Kenya was a one-sided affair at The Rose Bowl courtesy a solid 90 from Ganguly - who led India in a third consecutive edition. However, they lost to arch-rivals Pakistan in a game that saw India's batting collapse being bundled out for 200. Rahul Dravid, who top-scored with 67, had quite a few confrontations with paceman Shoaib Akhtar. Defending their total, India started off well as Irfan Pathan removed the first three Pakistan batsmen with just 27 on the board, thus continuing his glorious form against India's neighbours. Yousuf Youhana's unbeaten 81 along with Inzamam-ul-Haq's 49 stabilized the innings and Pakistan reached won in the last over to bring down the curtains on India's campaign.
Champions Trophy finals, 2004
See graphic.
From The Times of India
2006
Host: India
The Aussies won the only prize missing from their impressive trophy cabinet. After performing brilliantly in the group stage, Ricky Ponting’s men dismantled New Zealand in the semis and upstaged defending champions West Indies by eight wickets in the final. Shane Watson was the Man-of-the-Match, scoring 57 and taking two wickets.
The tournament had its fair share of controversies. Before it started, Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned for using performance-enhancing drugs. At the presentation ceremony after the final, the Australian team was accused of ‘misbehaving’ for pushing aside BCCI President Sharad Pawar on the victory podium. Some wanted action to be taken against the champions but the matter was put to rest after Ponting apologised to Pawar.
2006- Australia thump West Indies
West Indies played back to back Champions Trophy final and were up against Australia in this edition. Australia previously haven’t made it to a Champions Trophy final. Batting first, West Indies were bundled out for 138 in 30.4 overs. In reply, the target was reduced to 116 in 35 overs for Australia after D/L method came into play. The Aussies lost Adam Gilchrist and captain Rickty Ponting cheaply but Shane Watson’s 57 and Damien Martyn’s 47 guided them to a victory by 8 wickets.
India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2006
When the Champions Trophy came to India in 2006, many believed it to be the host's best chance to lay hands on the coveted prize. But sadly, the team was marred by the Greg Chappell-Ganguly controversy and Tendulkar's dip in form. The edition had participation from all 10 Test playing nations and India were grouped with West Indies, England and Australia. They first played England in Jaipur where the bowlers dismissed England for just 125 which India chased with four wickets in hand. Next up, they suffered a close loss at the hands of Brian Lara's West Indies after an all-round display of skills.
To qualify to the semis, India needed to beat Australia in Mohali. India batted and managed 249 thanks to half centuries from Sehwag (65) and skipper Dravid (52), along with some handful contributions down the order. However, half-centuries from Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn acted as the final nail in the coffin and India were ousted without making it to the semis for the second consecutive occasion.
Champions Trophy finals, 2006
See graphic.
From The Times of India
2009
Host: South Africa
It was another chance for ‘Nice Guys’ New Zealand to finish first but Australia, led by Shane Watson’s century, successfully defended the title after going through a lean patch in limited-overs for almost a year.
With Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken missing, the job wasn’t as easy. But Ricky Ponting’s inspired leadership and stellar shows from Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Tim Paine enabled Australia to emerge fitting champions.
The Australia skipper ended as the highest run-getter (288 runs in five matches) while South Africa pacer Wayne Parnell took the most scalps (11).
West Indies sent a second string due to a stand-off between the players and the cricket Board.
2009- Australia defend title comprehensively
Australia played their second Champions Trophy final on the trot and they took on New Zealand in Centurion in this edition. Batting first, New Zealand found themselves in a spot of bother when left struggling at 94/5. Though, Neil Broom and James Franklin showed some resistance to Australian bowling and ended their quota of 50 overs at 200/9. In reply, Shane Watson’s unbeaten 105 and Cameron White’s 62 anchored them to a six-wicket win.
India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2009
Played after a gap of three years, the tournament went to South Africa - where India had fond memories of the 2003 World Cup. A lot had changed as India, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, had started to dominate and had victories in Australia and New Zealand. But their first game against Pakistan was a bitter disappointment. The Indian bowlers were hammered, and their spinners Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan went for 127 runs in 20 overs. Shoaib Malik scored 128 off 126 deliveries and was supported immensely by Mohammad Yousuf (89). India started off the chase nicely with Gautam Gambhir going strong at the top, but the rest of the batting crumbled due to some discipline bowling from Pakistan. Dravid (76) and Suresh Raina (46) tried but India eventually fell short by 54 runs. The second game against Australia was a wash out after the Aussies put up 234 for 42.3 overs which further dented India's chances of qualifying to the semis. India thrashed West Indies in the next game at Johannesburg with a seven-wicket win but it wasn't enough as Pakistan and Australia made it to the semi-finals with a couple of wins each.
Champions Trophy finals, 2009
See graphic.
From The Times of India
2013
Host: England
Flawless performances from Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India powered them to their second Champions Trophy title.
The conditions in England were more batsmen friendly. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja made life difficult for batsmen, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma combined well to make it five wins in five for the Men in Blue.
The biggest moment of the tournament came when Dhoni decided to give the 18th over to Ishant Sharma in the rain-curtailed, 20-over final at Birmingham. With Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara at the crease, it was a gamble as the lanky seamer had been expensive, but his double strike turned the game in India’s favour. Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin did the rest as India stole the crown in the 20-20 sprint.
2013- India bring title home
This edition of the Champions Trophy was hosted by England and it was the hosts who locked horns with India in the final game. It was a rain-affected final and the overs were reduced to 20 aside in Birmingham. India batted first and rode on a responsible partnership between Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to score 129/7 in allotted 20 overs. Kohli scored 47 while Jadeja was unbeaten at 33. England started their chase in a dismal fashion. They lost skipper at a score of 3 while were reduced to 46/4 before Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan took on the responsibility. The two looked strong at the crease but a master-stroke from skipper MS Dhoni worked in a perfect manner for the Men in Blue. Ishant Sharma was handed over the ball in the 18th over and Morgan was on strike. England at that position needed 28 off 18. Left-handed Morgan missed out on the first delivery but smashed a six on the second one. Sharma then bowled two consecutive wide deliveries. But the real drama was still left to unfold. The fast bowler bowled a full length delivery outside off-stump while bowling from around the wicket. Morgan tried to go over mid-wicket area but he only managed to give a sitter to Ashwin at mid-on. The left-hander was gone and the task was now up to Bopara. He was on strike as the two batsmen had changed their ends on the previous delivery. Ishant now bowled a short delivery and Bopara pulled it only to find Ashwin at square-leg. The home side eventually needed 6 runs off the last ball. Ashwin was bowling this over and Tredwell was on strike. The left-handed batsman completely missed the delivery to hand India 77 a win by 5 runs.
India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2013
K Shriniwas Rao | A HAPPY HUNTING GROUND | May 30 2017 : The Times of India
2013 CHAMPIONS TROPHY
India won all their four matches in the tournament, including the final. Two wins came chasing while two defending the total a cricketing equilibrium of sorts that showcased India's complete domination.
SHIKHAR DHAWAN:
The left-handed opener was the highest scorer at the tournament with 363 runs in five innings, a highest of 114, two centuries and a half-century.
RAVINDRA JADEJA:
Tournament's MVP, the Saurashtra lad made the edition his own to a certain extent with the bat, to a large extent with the ball but to an unimaginable extent with his mindset and temperament. Jadeja picked 12 wickets in five matches, not to forget his outstanding fielding in the covers and catches that changed the course of a game more than once.
II
In what was then deemed by the ICC to be the final edition of the event, India beat England in a T20 thriller to give India their second title. India's successful campaign was led by a red-hot Shikhar Dhawan, who compiled an astonishing 363 runs at an average of over 90. He slammed his maiden ODI century in India's opener against South Africa and carried his form in next second match against West Indies with another century. The much-awaited clash against Pakistan saw India claim a hat-trick of wins on the back of a clinical performance by their bowlers, who skittled out the opposition for 165. 5. Rain threatened the outcome, but India were declared winners through the D/L method.
The semi-final pit India against Sri Lanka, in which three wickets each by Ishant and R Ashwin restricted the opposition to 181. India romped home by eight wickets with half-centuries from Dhawan and Virat Kohli. Incessant rain reduced the final to a 20-over fixture, where India were limited to 129 with Ravi Bopara claiming 3/20. In reply however, England slipped to 4/46 before Bopara and Eoin Morgan staged a comeback with a 65-run alliance. Ishant came back to remove both batsmen off successive deliveries to squeeze the life out of England's chase, Ashwin successfully defended four off the last ball and Dhoni, in a rare show of emotions, jumped in glory to celebrate his third ICC tournament win
Champions Trophy finals, 2013
See graphic.
From The Times of India
Shikhar Dhawan (363 runs in 5 matches)
The 2013 Champions Trophy is often dubbed as Shikhar Dhawan’s tournament. Thanks to his heroics, India were able to lift the trophy for the first time since 2002.
The swashbuckling opener scored 363 runs in the tournament at an incredible average of 90.75 as he announced his arrival to the world. In the very first match, he smashed a 94-ball 114 to help India win against the mighty South Africans. He followed it up with yet another century against the West Indies as India won the match by 8 wickets.
Dhawan continued his fairytale run with a quickfire 48 against Pakistan and another half-century against Sri Lanka. In the final, as well, he contributed to India’s narrow win over England with a 24-ball 31. Following India’s success, he was deservingly named as the Player of the Tournament.
2017
The June 1-18 tournament was held in England for the third time.
In what can be termed as the lowest point in their cricketing history, West Indies did not feature in the tournament as they weren’t among the top eight teams in ICC rankings on September 30, 2015 - the cut-off date for qualification. Bangladesh returned to the tournament for the first time since 2006.
India beat Pakistan by 124 runs (D/L)
| IndiaTimes/ The Times of India
India kicked off their defence of the ICC Champions trophy beating Pakistan by 124 runs (D/L) in their opening match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. India put on 319 for three despite two rain interruptions in 48 overs and managed to bundle out Pakistan for 164 in 33.4 overs. India’s top four registered fifties and the Man of the Match went to Yuvraj Singh for a blistering knock off 53 off just 32 deliveries. Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with 119-ball 91-run knock while skipper Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 81 off 68 deliveries. With the ball, Umesh Yadav led from the front scalping three wickets while Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja took two apiece.
Sri Lanka beat India
| IndiaTimes/ The Times of India
Riding on half-centuries from Danushka Gunathilaka (76 off 72) and Kusal Mendis (89 off 93), Sri Lanka stunned defending champions India
Sri Lanka overhauled India’s total of 321 for six with seven wickets in hand and eight balls remaining
For India, Dhawan scored 125 while Rohit Sharma (78 off 79) and MS Dhoni (63 off 52) registered half-centuries
Bangladesh beat New Zealand
Shakib and Mahmudullah shared a game-changing alliance of 224 for the fifth wicket
Mosaddek Hossain starred with the ball for the underdogs, taking three for 13 while bowling at the death to restrict New Zealand to 265 in their 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh found themselves staring down the barrel at 33/4. In Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, Bangladesh found their heroes for the cause. The experienced pair smashed the record for Bangladesh's highest ever partnership.
For the first time in the Champions Trophy 2017, the pacers were able to swing the ball.
Brief scores: New Zealand 265/8 in 50 overs (Ross Taylor 63, Kane Williamson 57; Mosaddek Hossain Saikat 3-13) lost to Bangladesh 268/5 in 47.2 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 114, Mahmudullah 102*; Tim Southee 3-45) by five wickets.
Pakistan beat South Africa
Sarfraz lauds bowlers after Pakistan victory | Jun 09 2017 AGENCIES
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said playing in front of a `home' crowd had helped inspire his side to a shock 19-run win over the world's No. 1 -ranked ODI side, South Africa, at Edgbaston. “I think the difference was our bowling and fielding,“ said wicketkeeper-captain Sarfraz.“Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim bowled well and they took the pressure off for us,“ he said.
Bangladesh qualify for the semifinal
A semifinal for Bangla after rain, England end Oz misery | Jun 11 2017 | AGENCIES
England knocked Australia out of the Champions Trophy with a 40-run win over their arch-rivals on the Duckworth-LewisStern method at Edgbaston. The result meant Australia's all three matches in the tournament have been affected by rain and it paved the way for Bangladesh to become the first Asian team to qualify for the semifinal of the tournament. Tournament outsider Bangladesh finished [in the] second place courtesy of their win over New Zealand.
India beat South Africa, entered semi-final
Defending champions India made it to the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy by defeating South Africa in a must-win encounter in the final league match by eight wickets at the Kennington Oval, London.
After bowling out the number one ranked ODI team for a paltry 191, India chased down the target with 12 overs remaining
Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with an 83-ball 78-run knock while skipper Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 76
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah claimed two wickets each. This is the fifth-time India have reached the semi-final stage of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka, entered semi-final
Captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir kept their nerve to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets to qualify for the Champions Trophy semifinal. The duo added unbeaten 75 runs for the eighth wicket as they chased down a modest target of 237 with 31 balls to spare. Sarfraz finished with unbeaten 61 off 79 balls as Amir gave him company with 28 crucial runs.
Pakistan stun England to reach final
Pakistan shocked favourites England by eight wickets with a spirited performance both with the bat and ball. Hasan Ali returned 3 for 35 in his 10 while Rumman Raees and Junaid Khan took two apiece After bowling out England for 211, Pakistan made short work of the target and led by Azhar Ali (76). They chased down the total for the loss of two wickets and 12.5 overs to spare.
India beat Bangladesh to meet Pakistan in the final
Dominant India set up blockbuster Pakistan final | Jun 15, 2017 | IndiaTimes/ The Times of India
A combined bowling effort helped India restrict Bangladesh to 264/7
India dished out a clinical performance to book a record fourth final appearance at the ICC Champions Trophy after sweeping aside Bangladesh in a one-sided affair in Edgbaston. Powered by a measured century from Rohit Sharma (123*) and a brisk fifty from captain Virat Kohli (96*), India coasted to a nine-wicket win, chasing down 265 in 40.1 overs.
Former captain Sohail insinuates that Pakistan fixed its success
Fixing claims seem to have returned to mar Pakistan cricket. Former captain Aamer Sohail has vaguely accused the team of making it to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy on the basis of "external forces". During an interview to a Pakistan news channel, the former opener has said that the team should not be flying too high, because if they're in the final, it's because "they were supposed to".
"We will congratulate you when you play well but we'll also criticise you when you don't. They [Pakistan team] should not be flying too high on their success at the moment because we know that they've been 'brought' to this position", Sohail said.
Sohail however, did not say anything beyond that, something that has left everyone puzzled. What was interesting to notice was that sharing the screen space with Sohail was Pakistan great Javed Miandad, who did not counter the claims of his former team-mate.
Pakistan beat India in the final
Brief scores: Pakistan 338/4 in 50 overs (Fakhar Zaman 114, Azhar Ali 59, Mohammad Hafeez 57*) beat India 158 in 30.2 overs (Hardik Pandya 76, Mohammad Amir 3/16, Hasan Ali 3/19) by 180 runs
This was Pakistan first ICC title since winning the 2009 World Twenty20 in a similarly incomprehensible manner
Fakhar Zaman scored his maiden ODI century in his fourth appearance
The foundation was stunning, with Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman forging Pakistan's best opening stand in over two years, with the latter marching on to score his maiden ODI century in his fourth appearance. And where the script was apt for a trademark collapse, the level-headedness of Babar Azam was followed by the utterly unpredictable Mohammad Hafeez leading a superbly orchestrated late assault - the result being a total of 338/4.
India never got close, meaning that the highest successful chase in an ICC tournament final remains the 277/4 that MS Dhoni's team made to clinch the 2011 World Cup.
The Indian team, ranked second in ODIs and just one point behind South Africa, bowled poorly for more than three-quarters of this match, conceding 25 extras, and lost their main three batsmen to Mohammad Amir even before the leading bowler of the tournament, Hasan Ali, had bowled a ball. From six wickets down in 17 overs, the inevitable was delayed by Hardik Pandya's six-fuelled 76 before India were bowled out for 158 in the 31st over.
The match, in truth, was lost from the time India asked Pakistan to bat on a warm afternoon, under clear skies and on a flat surface. And to think, it could have been very different had Jasprit Bumrah not over-stepped to start the fourth over of this blockbuster final. Zaman was on 3 at the time, and looking out of sorts. Bumrah's no-ball gave him a life, he then hit two plucky bottom-handed boundaries and that, as the old saying goes, was the horse bolting out of the proverbial stables
RECORDS, STATISTICS
Batting
Batsmen with 100 runs or more in a CT competition
See graphic.
From The Times of India
Opening partnerships
Best in terms of averages
See graphic.
From [ The Times of India ]
Spinners and fast bowlers
From The Times of India
Bowling
Inning’s best bowling figures
See graphic.
From The Times of India
India vs. Pakistan
Matches lost and won, 1998-2013
See graphic.
From The Times of India
Trivia
Rain affected matches in CT 2013, 2017
From The Times of India
