New Delhi: The Indian cricket team won its last ICC trophy in the form of the Champions Trophy 2013. Indian team lifted the trophy by winning against England in a dramatic final game on June 23.
The tournament gave India great positives to build on a healthy cricketing future. Rohit-Dhawan opening pair, Sir Jadeja the all-rounder, Bhuvneshwar Kumar swinging the ball in English conditions and many more. Nine years after the Indian team won the tournament, let us take a look back at what were the highlights of the Champions Trophy 2013 for India.
The Proteas Challenge
India began their campaign by playing against South Africa. The South African batting line-up had the best players in the world, De Villiers, JP Duminy, and Amla to name a few, so India needed to post a total that they could defend. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan gave India a dream start with 127 runs partnership. Dhawan scored a century, 114 (94) and Rohit scored 65(81). After a brilliant start, Ravindra Jadeja led India to a total of 331/7 scoring 47* at a strike rate of 162.
Half-centuries by three South Africans went in vain as Indian bowlers got them all out at 305. Shikhar Dhawan was awarded the ‘Player of the Match Award’.
Windies cannot stand Jadeja
As the partnership between Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo was developing, Sir Jadeja was handed the ball. Jadeja took three quick wickets and the Windies were on the back foot. The West Indies ended up 233/9 out of which Jadeja took 5 wickets.
Rohit and Shikhar again posted a hundred runs partnership, with Dhawan scoring a century and Rohit hitting a fifty. With Dinesh Karthik’s fifty in the end India chased the score easily.
Arch-rivals
India played their third game against Pakistan, which got interrupted by rain. The game was reduced to 40 overs and Pakistan just posted 165. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashwin and Jadeja took two wickets each.
India had to chase 102 in 22 overs did not prove to be a difficult task even in front of a deadly bowling line-up. Shikhar Dhawan scored 48(41) and powered the chase. Bhuvneshwar got the Player of the Match for his figures of 8-2-19-2.
Semis against Sri Lanka
India topped Group B and went on to face Sir Lanka in the Semi-Finals. Seeing this everyone was remembering the 2011 World Cup Finals and excitement was at its peak. Sri Lanka, batting first, could post a total of only 181 runs as Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin took 3 wickets each.
India chased down the score in just 35 overs with Dhawan and Kohli scoring half-centuries. Ishant was named the Player of the Match for his 3 for 33.
Finals: India Vs England T20I
India was facing England in the finals, but it was raining even before the match could begin. People speculated that the trophy might be shared. Soon the ground got ready for the play and the overs were reduced to 20. The final of an ODI tournament was a T20 game!
India, batting first was 66/5 when Kohli stepped in the driver’s seat and hit 43(34) and Jadeja gave a good finish with his 33*(25). India posted a target of 130 for the Englishmen as Ravi Bopara took 3 wickets.
Umesh Yadav struck early and got Cook out for 2. What followed was a batting collapse for England as well. Then Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara stood up to pose trouble to the Indians. Dhoni handed the ball to Ishant who was going for plenty of runs, but in his 18th over he got both the dangerous-looking batsmen out. Ashwin was bowling the final over and England needed 6 from 1 ball. Ashwin bowled a dot ball and it was the third ICC trophy in MS Dhoni’s pocket as the Indian captain.
Shikhar Dhawan received the Golden Bat and Player of the Series Award for his 363 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja received the Golden Ball for taking 12 wickets.
