Tendulkar’s brilliance to Dhoni scripting history: The highs, lows and other memories of India in ICC Champions Trophy

A biennial event after it began in 1998, the Champions Trophy has seen the gap between editions increase. Two, three, four and now being held after eight years, this one-day competition has seen India do well in the Sourav Ganguly era in the early 2000s and win it under MS Dhoni in 2013. Virat Kohli’s team lost the final four years later. A quick look at India in Champions Trophy...

1998, Bangladesh (semi-finals)

Mohammed Azharuddin’s team beat Australia thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s all-round brilliance (141 & 4/38), but stumbled against the West Indies in the semi-finals. Half-centuries from Ganguly and Robin Singh were not enough as the Caribbeans made short work of India’s 242/6. South Africa won the final. It remains their only ICC title at the senior men’s level.

2000, Kenya (runners-up)

Arrival of Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and the beginning of Ganguly’s team’s run of three successive ICC ODI championship finals. India displayed a brand not associated with the team until then. There was verbal aggression, staring at the opposition and wins against Australia and South Africa. The final defeat against New Zealand still rankles. India made silly errors in big moments, but the world took note of the emergence of a new force.

Also Read: The Gibbs cramp and the Dhoni gambit – the greatest ICC Champions Trophy comebacks

2002, Sri Lanka (joint-winners)

The Indian team celebrate during the ICC Champions Trophy 2002

India had been bolstered by Virender Sehwag the opener. He was on song and India were the favourites to win the final after beating Zimbabwe, England and South Africa. The semi-final against South Africa was remarkable. Late brilliance with the ball and spectacular fielding brought India back from the brink. Chasing 244 in the first final washed out by rain and 222 in the second which met the same fate, India shared the title with Sri Lanka. It’s the only time this trophy had joint-winners.

2004, England (group stage)

Beginning of the end of the Ganguly era! India lost badly to Pakistan and failed to advance from the group. The West Indies pulled off a miraculous chase against England to win their first ICC title after 1979.

2006, India (group stage)

Rahul Dravid shakes hands with Ricky Ponting during toss in ICC Champions Trophy 2009 (AFP/File Photo)

The only occasion India hosted this event. Rahul Dravid’s team beat England before losing to West Indies and Australia. They failed to cross the group league. Australia won this trophy for the first time.

2009, South Africa (group stage)

Praveen Kumar celebrates after picking a wicket during the 2009 Champions Trophy (AFP/File Photo)

Suffered another defeat against Pakistan and couldn’t make it beyond the group stage. MS Dhoni’s team was in disarray, Rahul Dravid was pulled out of an ODI slumber and the team was below-par.

2013, England (champions)

The Indian team celebrates after winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 (AFP/File Photo)

Shikhar Dhawan belted 363 runs in five outings and Rohit Sharma formed a formidable pair with him in his first tournament as an ODI opener. India brushed aside South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies in the group stage and outplayed Sri Lanka in the semi-final. In the final against England reduced to 20 overs due to rain, they showed nerves of steel. Dhoni became the first captain to win the Champions Trophy alongside the ODI and T20 World Cups.

2017, England (runners-up)

Umpire Marais Erasmus signals no-ball, which gave Fakhar Zaman life in the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2017 (AFP/File Photo)

Kohli’s boys suffered a seven-wicket mauling against Sri Lanka despite piling up 321, but outplayed Pakistan and South Africa to qualify as group toppers. Rohit was on fire as India thrashed Bangladesh in the semi-finals. Then came Fakhar Zaman and Mohammed Amir in the final. The former’s century and the latter’s three-wicket burst saw India sink to a titanic, 180-run defeat.