The countdown to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final has begun. It is merely two days away, and India will face New Zealand in Dubai. Different people view cricket differently, but an ICC trophy is often seen as the game’s ultimate glory.
India’s performance in prior ICC trophies
Before venturing further into the article, we should discuss a matter that any ardent cricket fan is sure to know. India has won 5 ICC trophies to date and each one has been a moment to cherish for all cricket fans in India. Let us list them one by one.
- Men’s 50 over Cricket World Cup (CWC) – 1983
- Men’s T20 CWC – 2007
- Men’s 50 over CWC – 2011
- ICC Champions Trophy – 2013
- Men’s T20 CWC – 2024
Indeed, among all these victories, the 1983 CWC might be the most special as India drew first blood. India used to be underdogs in cricket during those days, and no one expected them to win. Kapil Dev was India’s captain who lifted the first World Cup.
Occasions when India lost in ICC trophy finals
A factor that makes winning any ICC trophy all the more special is the heartbreak the entire nation experiences when their national team does not end up on the winning side. This offends more still when the team makes it to as far as the finals.
Cricket, ultimately, is a game of luck but you always want your team to win. It is this healthy competition that makes the game all the more special.
So, this situation has materialized a few times when India lost in finals. The latest was just over a year back when India lost the 2023 50-over World Cup to Australia.
With India’s first innings score, the odds of winning were low anyway. When Travis Head, Australia’s opener hit the turf, whatever little odds India had were also lost. It was a matter of time before Australia won the finals.
This experience is not new to India. The same thing happened under Saurav Ganguly’s captaincy in 2003. India had painstakingly made it to the finals and they were to take on Australia. Australia set up a bomb of a total in the first innings and chasing it down was always going to be a mean feat. But, it was not meant to be and what followed was what cricket experts had initially expected. The deepest and darkest fears of cricket fans came to life when India lost the final.
Another such incident that comes to mind was the 2000 ICC Champions trophy when the finals were washed out for two days at a stretch. Even though 110 overs were played during these two days, India and Sri Lanka, both finalists were declared joint winners of the trophy.
Any ardent cricket fan will tell you that being a joint winner is not something that comes anywhere close to being a winner. If we have joint winners to any major ICC trophy, it only goes to show that the rain gods have denied the cricket fans of a fiercely competitive tie. Then, India lost to Pakistan in the finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
The magnum opus of cricketing excellence is scheduled for tomorrow
In this Champions Trophy, India beat Australia in the semi-final clash in Dubai on their way to making it to the finals. A few of the wounds of the 2023 50-over CWC loss were overcome. But, the battle is nowhere close to being won and India take on New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday, 9th March 2023.
Be sure to book your seat before the television on Sunday. The match begins at around 1430 hrs IST, which is pretty much the time for lunch. With the final being scheduled for Sunday, even more people can watch the game as they enjoy the weekend. A victory for India will surely make the final more enjoyable because such moments are a rarity in cricket. In any ICC trophy finals, the games are fiercely competitive. It’s a show of skill, strategy, endurance, stamina, and nerves as the best lock horns with the best in the game.
Does New Zealand have an edge over India in ICC playoffs?
An interesting piece of trivia that we should not miss out on – New Zealand beat India in the World Test Championship finals at Lords in 2021. They have an edge over India in the ICC playoffs. New Zealand is also credited for knocking India out of the 2019 50-over Cricket World Cup.
So, India sure has a score to settle with New Zealand. There can be no better platform to do the same than the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, which takes place tomorrow in Dubai.
If India wins tomorrow’s final, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma will have 2 ICC trophies in his cabinet, the 2024 T20 World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Besides Sharma, MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev are the only 2 Indian captains to win ICC trophies. While Dhoni won 3, Kapil won 1.
So, many cricket records are to be made in the finals tomorrow. Gear up for an exciting clash!
