As his teammates basked within the glory of India’s success within the Champions Trophy here on Sunday, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya remembered the heartbreak within the 2017 edition of the tournament. Back then India had lost to traditional rivals Pakistan in the ultimate in England, where Hardik was a part of the team. “All the time amazing to win an ICC event. I remember 2017 very closely, couldn’t finish that point. More than happy to have done it here,” Hardik, who contributed significantly to India’s title triumph on Sunday, told the official broadcaster.
Hardik was the lone ranger for India within the 2017 final as he smashed a 43-ball 76, however the knock couldn’t prevent his team from suffering a heavy defeat.
Set a goal of 252 by Recent Zealand, India accomplished the duty with 4 wickets and 6 balls to spare to win their third Champions Trophy title, after 2002 and 2013.
The all-rounder was also filled with praise for KL Rahul, one other contributor to the team’s triumphal march and who made an unbeaten 34 in the ultimate.
“KL was calm, he took his probabilities at the best time. He has immense talent, nobody can time it in addition to him.” Rahul anchored the chase after India lost a few wickets to search out themselves at 203/5 within the forty second over.
The Karnataka cricketer said he was all the time confident of getting the job done.
“As confident as I could possibly be that I could recover from the road. Keeping composure is all that matters, comfortable to have done it this time. I’ve batted in times like this in three out of the five games,” Rahul said.
“Hard to place in words, however the team has pure skill. The way in which we have all needed to play cricket growing up, we faced pressure from the time we became skilled cricketers. The BCCI have groomed all of them and we have difficult ourselves to get well,” the soft-spoken batter said.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, Rohit’s trump card within the tournament with nine wickets in three matches, called it a dream-come-true moment for him.
“It was a sudden inclusion (on being a part of the XI from the league match against Recent Zealand), I didn’t expect to end up like this, a dream come true. The spin was less in the primary innings and I needed to be disciplined, just stick with the fundamentals,” Chakaravarthy said.
India claimed the trophy without losing a match, reflecting their dominance within the tournament.
Opener Shubman Gill, who began the tournament with a century against Bangladesh, expressed his awe for his skipper’s free-flowing batting that has often set the tempo for the team.
“Felt amazing. For probably the most time, I sat back and enjoyed Rohit’s batting. He told me doesn’t matter how the scoreboard gap is, the aim was to bat till the top. We missed out in 2023, comfortable to win eight ODIs back to back.
“Seeing the intensity with which he plays with is amazing. He keeps telling us to present it all the pieces and backs it up. Recent Zealand are very consistent and execute plans accurately. We all know they offer it their all. They showed it tonight with the consistency,” Gill said.
Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been a part of few famous wins in addition to heartbreaks, expressed his delight at this triumph.
“That’s the way it is with me; sometimes a hero, sometimes a zero. The wicket was tough for a brand new batter. Hardik and KL were great. Winning the Champions Trophy is a large thing. In case you don’t win a giant tournament after playing so long, it hurts,” said Jadeja, who hit the winning runs.
For Shreyas Iyer, who lent solidity to the center order together with his calculated batting, it was a maiden ICC tournament win “Feeling ecstatic. That is my first ICC trophy, sort of overwhelmed taking a look at each and everybody within the dressing room. I like to go under pressure, I thrive. Not capable of get a giant one (in the ultimate) but immensely satisfying to contribute to win. These are the lucky earrings, they’ll stay on,” the fashionable batter said.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who sent back the damaging Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession to present India the upper hand, said managing 4 spinners in a playing XI shouldn’t be a straightforward job.
“It is simple to say that 4 spinners within the team, but it is vitally tough to administer 4 spinners. There was a whole lot of planning and all credit to Rohit bhai. Big party tonight,” Kuldeep said.
“Luckily my batting wasn’t needed. KL and Hardik did brilliantly. I don’t think in favourites tags but now we have been doing brilliantly. This win is devoted to our fans.”
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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