Following an unbeaten run in the 50-overs ICC Champions Trophy tournament, Team India clinched the title in a thrilling final with New Zealand, bagging the prize after 12 long years. It was a masterclass by the Indian cricketers, veterans and youngsters, as they performed as a cohesive unit.
Batters and bowlers, especially the spinners, delivered, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who were beginning to be written off before the tournament, showing that they are still among the best. Demands for their retirement died a natural death.
This is India’s second successive ICC tournament win, having won the ICC T20 trophy in the West Indies last year. Controversies surrounded this edition of the 50-over tournament over India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, the host of the tournament.
As a result, all of India’s matches in the group stage, semi-final and final were played in Dubai. Some analysts said this gave India an unfair advantage because they played all their matches on one ground, unlike the other teams who had to play in different venues in Pakistan.
The decision of the political masters in New Delhi prevailed because of India’s immense clout in the ICC. What was unfortunate was the absence of any Pakistani official on the dais during the trophy presentation ceremony. Sport and politics are, unfortunately, often interlinked and can lead to ugly confrontations.
The Indo-Pak encounter at the group stage was a damp squib because this Pakistani team has none of the fire and talent of earlier teams. What was heartening was Pakistani fans’ ecstatic reaction to Virat Kohli’s century.
By contrast, a person who allegedly overheard a young boy chanting anti-national slogans in a Maharashtra town led to the booking of the 15-year-old and the bulldozing of his house. India’s famed unity in diversity is slowly being overtaken by bigotry and hatred.
There was some external noise surrounding the tournament when the spokesperson of a political party fat-shamed Rohit Sharma. This led to a political confrontation, but fortunately the cricketers themselves refused to be dragged into the row. A cleric calling out Mohammed Shami for having an energy drink during a practice session in the holy month of Ramzan also received short shrift.
Cricket was the ultimate winner in the tournament. The Afghanistan team proved that it was a force to be reckoned with, and even a depleted Australian side lived up to its reputation of displaying grit and fortitude. For the South Africans, it was heartbreak at the semi-final stage.
Unfortunately, the hosts, Pakistan, were a pale shadow of the team that had dominated the world of cricket in the nineties and later. With another trophy under its belt, Team India will now disperse for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League that kicks off on March 22.
