The countdown for the 2025 Champions Trophy has clearly begun, and all eyes will be on India’s games. They will face Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the group stage, all in Dubai. It’s no surprise, as India is one of the most loved teams and has won the Champions Trophy twice, once in 2013 and as co-winners with Sri Lanka in 2002. India has always provided fans with memorable moments, but it’s also important to note that they have had a mixed record in the ICC Champions Trophy. Alongside moments of victory, there have also been disappointments. The Men in Blue have made several mistakes in previous Champions Trophy editions. For example, after performing exceptionally well in 2017, they failed to cross the final hurdle and lost to Pakistan. Similar errors have occurred in the past, often becoming the focal point of their campaigns. Let’s take a look at all the mistakes India made in previous Champions Trophy editions.
Mistakes India made in previous Champions Trophy editions
Lack of caution and batting failure in 2006 CT
India playing in India in an ICC tournament means a mountain of pressure. The Men in Blue were the hosts in the 2006 Champions Trophy, but unfortunately, Rahul Dravid and his team failed to deliver the result Indian fans were looking for. The hosts suffered miserably, making several mistakes, but the major issue was the poor performance of the Indian top-order batters. Also, big names like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid himself, and Virender Sehwag, known for dominating bowlers from the start, failed to make an impact. As a result, India lost two crucial games against West Indies and Australia, unable to defend their totals.
Tactical errors also played a significant role, particularly the decision to rely heavily on pace bowlers while underutilising spin options, despite playing on spin-friendly Indian pitches. India went with bowlers like Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, and RP Singh, who featured in most of the games. Meanwhile, Australia went on to win the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy by defeating West Indies in the final. India finished third in Group A and did not qualify for the semis.
Cricket 6 mins “India vs Pakistan biggest but winning Champions Trophy more important”: PAK vice-captain sets priorities straightYuvraj Singh injury and middle-order struggle in 2009 Champions Trophy
The 2009 Champions Trophy did not bring much joy to Indian fans. This time, the tournament was held in South Africa, a country where India had fond memories, having won the 2007 T20 World Cup there. Many believed that the team would replicate that success in this tournament as well, but unfortunately, things did not go as planned, and India failed to reach the semi-finals.
A massive setback was Yuvraj Singh’s withdrawal from the tournament due to a finger injury. His absence exposed India’s middle order, leading to an over-reliance on the top order, which could not consistently perform. On several occasions, India lost matches because the middle-order batters failed to contribute. Also, poor fielding came under scrutiny, and the bowling attack struggled, as seen in the match against Pakistan, where they conceded 300 runs and were convincingly defeated. Even in the rain-affected game against Australia, the bowlers struggled, with Australia scoring over 200 runs in 40 overs before the match was abandoned.
Overall, India’s reliance on top-order players and tactical missteps contributed to back-to-back disappointing campaigns in the Champions Trophy. In total, they played three matches in the 2009 Champions Trophy, securing one win against West Indies and suffering one loss against Pakistan. Their match against Australia ended with no result due to rain. As a result, India finished third in Group A and failed to qualify for the semis.
Poor strategy in final vs Pakistan in 2017 Champions Trophy
Maybe the first two incidents mentioned above may not hurt fans, but surely the last Champions Trophy campaign in England did. India, under Virat Kohli‘s leadership, were in impressive form, dominating every team they faced. Despite a defeat to Sri Lanka, Indian batters and bowlers were performing well together. They also entered the tournament as defending champions, having won in 2013. In the final, India faced Pakistan, a team known for playing unpredictable cricket. India chose to bowl first in this pressure game, likely influenced by past success.
However, many felt it was the wrong decision, as most teams in similar scenarios opted to bat first and set a high score.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman capitalised on the opportunity, scoring a century and becoming a hero for his team. Pakistan posted a massive total of 338 runs, but many still believed India could chase it down. However, the top order crumbled under pressure, with key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan getting out cheaply. The middle order, which had not been exposed much earlier in the tournament, struggled in this high-stakes match. No one performed well except for Hardik Pandya, who tried to push the game deeper. Unfortunately, a miscommunication and a run-out with Ravindra Jadeja sent Pandya back to the pavilion. As a result, India lost the game by a massive margin of 180 runs.
Top 3 mistakes India made in previous Champions Trophy editions Inside Sport India.
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