The year 2013 was a historic one for Indian cricket, as the Men in Blue clinched the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy, their second title in the tournament’s history. India’s journey to victory in this eight-nation competition was marked by outstanding performances, underlining their dominance in limited-overs cricket. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at India’s journey to 2013 Champions Trophy victory.
India’s 2013 Champions Trophy Format
The 2013 ICC Champions Trophy was the seventh edition of the tournament. It was held in England and Wales from June 6 to June 23, 2013. The tournament followed a round-robin format in the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The eight participating teams were India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Australia, England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
India’s 2013 Champions Trophy Squad
MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, R Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav.
India’s road to 2013 Champions Trophy
Group Stage
India was placed in Group B along with Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indies. Led by MS Dhoni, the Indian team had a fantastic run in the group stage. They won three out of three matches.
In their opening game against South Africa, India showed their dominance by restricting the Africans from chasing a huge target. India won the match by 26 runs. The match featured an excellent performance by Shikhar Dhawan who scored a century.
The second game was against the West Indies, and India once again emerged victorious. Jadeja outstanding fifer helped in restricting West Indies to a low score. A century from Dhawan easily secured the victory for team India.
The last game of group stage was against the arch-rivals Pakistan. Pakistan scored a very low total and India won the match very easily after D/L was imposed. They topped their group and moved on to the semi-finals.
Semi-Final
India faced Sri Lanka in the semi-final at Cardiff on June 20, 2013. Shikhar Dhawan, who was the highest run-scorer of the tournament, continued his fine form, scoring a brilliant 68 runs. Sri Lanka posted a below average total, as the bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma, dismantled the Sri Lankan batting order. India won the semi-final comprehensively, sealing their place in the final.
The Final Showdown
The final of the 2013 Champions Trophy was held at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 23, 2013. India faced England, the host nation, in front of a packed stadium. England won the toss and elected to field. Rain delayed the start of play until 16:20 and reduced the match to 20 overs per side.
Batting first, India had a few hiccups, but Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a steady fifty. He was supported by Ravindra Jadeja, which helped India to put a respectable total.
The Indian bowlers were relentless, and Ashwin’s last over spell was the turning point of the match. He took two crucial wickets. India secured a comfortable victory and were crowned champions of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
2013 ICC Champions Trophy Final scorecard – India Vs England
India’s path to 2013 Champions Trophy
| Date | Match | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2013 | Group B, Match 1 | South Africa | Won |
| June 9, 2013 | Group B, Match 6 | West Indies | Won |
| June 11, 2013 | Group B, Match 9 | Pakistan | Won |
| June 15, 2013 | Semi-final | Sri Lanka | Won |
| June 23, 2013 | Final | England | Won |
Who was the captain of India in Champions Trophy in 2013?
The captain of the Indian cricket team during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the team to victory.
Who was the player of the tournament in 2013 Champions Trophy?
In the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, the Player of the Tournament was Shikhar Dhawan. He was recognized for his outstanding performance as the leading run-scorer in the competition, contributing significantly to India’s success in the tournament.
Who scored most runs in 2013 Champions Trophy for India?
Shikhar Dhawan was the highest run-scorer for India in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He played a crucial role in India’s triumph, scoring a total of 363 runs in the tournament, which earned him the Golden Bat award for being the highest run-scorer of the competition.
Who was the man of the match in 2013 Champions Trophy Final?
Ravindra Jadeja was named the Man of the Match in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final. He played a pivotal role in India’s triumph, making significant contributions with both bat and ball in the match against England.
India’s victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy was a proud moment for Indian cricket fans. The team displayed exceptional skills and teamwork, capturing their second Champions Trophy title. The win not only added to India’s growing list of cricketing achievements but also underlined their prowess in limited-overs cricket. The tournament was filled with memorable performances and thrilling moments that will forever be etched in the annals of Indian cricket history.
