June 23rd is a golden day in Indian cricket history. Exactly 12 years ago, on June 23rd, 2013, Team India defeated England on their home turf in the ICC Champions Trophy final, claiming the prestigious title.
Sports News: Twelve years ago today, a day arrived that filled the hearts of millions of Indians with pride and joy. It was June 23rd, 2013, when, under MS Dhoni's captaincy, Team India defeated England on their home ground to win the ICC Champions Trophy. This victory was not just a trophy; it symbolized India's strategic prowess, Dhoni's astute leadership, and the team's fighting spirit.
This final had every cricket fan on the edge of their seats. Affected by rain, the match was reduced from 50 overs to 20, but the excitement remained undiminished.
Rain-Affected Final, Match Becomes a 'T20'
Due to rain, the overs were reduced to 20 in this crucial match at Birmingham. Winning the toss, England opted to bowl first. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opened the Indian innings. However, Rohit was dismissed early for 9 runs, but Dhawan played a useful innings of 31 runs.
Following this, the middle-order trio of Dhoni, Raina, and Dinesh Karthik could only manage 2 runs. India appeared to be in trouble. However, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja steadied the ship. Kohli scored a crucial 42, and Jadeja an unbeaten 33. Thanks to their efforts, India reached 129/7.
England's Wobbly Start, but the Middle Order Raises Hopes
Chasing 130, England's start was equally poor. Captain Alastair Cook was dismissed for just 2 runs. Ian Bell (13) and Joe Root (7) also failed to make a significant contribution. England lost 4 wickets for 46 runs. Then came Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, whose partnership ignited concerns in the Indian camp. They put on a 50-run stand, bringing England within 20 runs with 16 balls remaining.
The 18th over proved to be a turning point. Dhoni entrusted Ishant Sharma with the ball, a decision that surprised many cricket fans and commentators, as Ishant had been somewhat expensive previously. Morgan hit a six off the second ball of the over, followed by two wides – it seemed India's hopes were fading.
But then came Dhoni's magic. From behind the stumps, Dhoni communicated something to Ishant – perhaps a strategic instruction. The result? Ishant dismissed Morgan and then Bopara with the next two balls. A collective sigh of relief swept through the stadium and the millions watching on television.
Final Over: Ashwin's Nerve-Wracking Performance
England needed 15 runs from the final over, bowled by R. Ashwin. No runs from the first ball, a boundary from Broad off the second. A single off the third. Then two consecutive twos, leaving England needing 6 runs from the last ball. James Tredwell faced Ashwin. Tredwell missed the final ball, and India secured a historic victory by 5 runs.
With this victory, MS Dhoni created another milestone. He became the first captain to win all three ICC trophies – the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and now the 2013 Champions Trophy. Under his captaincy, India not only became champions but also asserted its dominance in world cricket.
Ravindra Jadeja was named 'Man of the Match' for his outstanding performance in the final. He played a brisk 33 runs with the bat and also bowled exceptionally well. He also received the tournament's 'Golden Ball Award'.
