Eight years ago, India went to a Champions Trophy final as overwhelming favourites. They were the best team of the tournament by a distance. But the wheels came off on June 18, 2017 at The Oval. Fakhar Zaman’s century and Mohammad Amir's first spell put paid to India's hopes of winning the trophy, as Pakistan pulled off an upset. Hardik Pandya was the only Indian player to come out with some credit from that game, 76 off 43 balls before he was run out. On Sunday in Dubai, he exorcised the ghost of 2017.
In the final against New Zealand on Sunday, Pandya played an important cameo after the game became tight. Axar Patel got out in the 42nd over and India were still 49 runs shy of the target. The all-rounder made run-a-ball 18, invaluable in the context of the game. His 38-run sixth wicket partnership with KL Rahul made the outcome a formality.
Pandya played an excellent hand in the semi-final against Australia as well, scoring 28 off 24 balls and ensuring there were no back-end hiccups, as India chased 265 for victory. As a bowler also, he stood up to be counted, first as the third seamer and then, sharing the new ball with Mohammed Shami, after the team management decided to play four spinners. His 2/31 from eight overs against Pakistan was the bowling performance of the match.
India won the T20 World Cup last year. But winning a 50-over global event was always going to be special. It somewhat put a balm on the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak. Also, a lot of players in this team had been carrying the scars of losing the final of an ICC tournament to Pakistan eight years ago. Pandya probably spoke for all of them when he expressed his delight to bury the ghosts of 2017.
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“It's always amazing to win an ICC event, especially the Champions Trophy. I remember 2017 very closely to my heart. We couldn't finish the job that time,” the 31-year-old told the host broadcaster after embracing the moment of triumph. “Pleased with how we have played throughout the tournament and how everyone contributed.”
KL Rahul got a special mention from Pandya. The team management’s decision to pick him as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman ahead of Rishabh Pant was questioned. But all along, Gautam Gambhir and Co. knew what they were doing. Rahul proved his worth with telling contributions with the bat in the semi-final and the final.
“Brilliant, calm and composed, (he) took his chances at the right times. I think this is what KL Rahul is. KL Rahul has immense talent, I don't think anyone can hit the ball the way he can. That was an exhibition of how he did today (Sunday),” Pandya hailed his teammate.
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