Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team came up short yet again in an ICC event for the third straight time as they lost in the final of the ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand.
Follow Us
June 23, 2013 was a very special day in the history of Indian cricket. On that day, MS Dhoni’s side created history as they won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy by beating England in Edgbaston. It made MS Dhoni the only captain in history to win all three ICC events. Eight years later, Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team were on the cusp of securing the ICC World Test Championship trophy against New Zealand in the final. The match was evenly poised, despite New Zealand taking a 32-run lead.
However, New Zealand‘s bowlers put up a great display and India’s batsmen floundered. They lost wickets at regular intervals and they collapsed to 170 all out, with all the batsmen failing yet again. New Zealand had some nervy moments, but Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson stitched a 96-run stand to give New Zealand glory.
The Kiwis finally had broken their ICC jinx of 21 years to become the first winners of the ICC World Test Championship. They continued their unbeaten record against India in England. For the last seven years, this was the seventh different team that had clinched an ICC event. For Virat Kohli and India, it was heartbreak yet again as their horrors in ICC events continued. Here is a list of events that India have come up short after the glory of the 2013 Champions Trophy
India put up a fabulous performance as they remained unbeaten in the tournament. They had secured a great win against Australia and in the semi-final, Virat Kohli’s brilliant knock helped India beat South Africa. In the final, they encountered Sri Lanka. Kohli once again blasted a fifty. But, some inspired bowling from Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga and Sachithra Senanayake saw India score just 19 runs in the last four overs. Sri Lanka were boosted by a fifty from Kumar Sangakkara and an aggressive knock from Thisara Perera. Sri Lanka were crowned the ICC World T20 champions for the first time as India fell short on the big day.
The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup went into a familiar blueprint. India topped their group with big wins against South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan. India had established a seven-game winning streak and it looked like they could go all the way to the final. However, in the semi-final against Australia, Steve Smith became their nemesis. Having scored centuries in all four Tests earlier, Smith hit a century in Sydney and he got good support from Aaron Finch. Mitchell Johnson’s exploits with the bat got Australia to 328/7. Shikhar Dhawan started aggressively. But, once he fell and Johnson got the big wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India lost the plot. James Faulkner and Mitchell Starc cleaned up the tail and India exited the tournament with a 95-run loss.
India had the chance to go for glory in their home turf. This was the last time MS Dhoni was leading the side and they started on a wrong note. They were bundled out for 79 against New Zealand in Nagpur. India bounced back with a win against Pakistan but against Bangladesh, they were staring at defeat. Needing two runs off three balls, Bangladesh looked certain for a win. However, an epic choke, which saw MS Dhoni effect a brilliant run-out saw India win by one run. In their last league game against Australia in Mohali, Virat Kohli blasted 82 in a one-of-a-kind knock. India entered the semi-final against West Indies in Mumbai.
Kohli was once again the man in form as his 89 got India to 192/2. West Indies started poorly but a couple of no-balls from Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin turned the tide. Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles and Andre Russell played like men possessed. West Indies silenced the Wankhede with a five-wicket win as they progressed to the final.
India were the form team of the tournament. They started off with a massive win against Pakistan but stumbled against Sri Lanka at The Oval. India knocked South Africa out of the contest and they were in top gear in the semi-final against Bangladesh. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were dominating the batting charts. It seemed India’s jinx would finally end. The ICC Champions Trophy had a marquee final with arch-rivals Pakistan joining India as they revived their campaign.
India started poorly as Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball reprieved Fakhar Zaman. The left-hander hit a century and he got great support from Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Babar Azam. Pakistan made 338 but India’s fans did not give up hope. Mohammad Amir, though, had other ideas. The left-arm pacer, sullied by the spot-fixing allegations seven years ago, put on a bowling display for the ages. In his six-over spell, he dismissed Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan to break the back of the Indian batting. When Hasan Ali dismissed MS Dhoni and Shadab got rid of Yuvraj and Kedar Jadhav, the game was almost up.
Hardik Pandya kept the fight going with some big sixes. Once he was run-out, the end came quickly and India were blown away for 180 runs. Pakistan had won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time. They became the fourth team after India, West Indies and Sri Lanka to complete the set of trophies.
India once again dominated, with Rohit Sharma hitting five centuries. India topped the table with wins over Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Their only loss came in the game against England in Edgbaston. In the semi-final, they encountered New Zealand. Their earlier league game was washed out due to rain in Trent Bridge.
In a rain-marred semi-final in Old Trafford, New Zealand managed 239 with Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor scoring fifties. The game spilled into the reserve day with India in the driver’s seat. But, Matt Henry’s triple strike and Trent Boult’s wicket of Virat Kohli changed the game. Mitchell Santner dismissed Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni kept the fight alive for India. When Jadeja hit a fifty, the game was in India’s favour.
However, when he fell, India needed 31 off 12 balls. Dhoni was still there. He upper-cut Lockie Ferguson for a big six. But, in attempting a second run couple of balls later, Martin Guptill effected a direct hit and Dhoni was just short of the crease. It would be the last time Dhoni represented India. Kohli’s team lost by 18 runs and their hopes of a 1983-like success in Lord’s was dashed.
Having lost in the ODIs and T20Is at the knockout hurdle, India were desperate to win. In a final that was ruined for two and a half days due to rain, the result overwhelmingly favoured a draw. India were bowled out for 217. Williamson held fort again and his 49, combined with contributions from the tail gave New Zealand a 32-run lead. The match spilled into the reserve day.
New Zealand bowled to their plan and India collapsed to 170 all out. Williamson and Taylor once again held firm and they guided the Kiwis to their first major ICC win after 21 years. The win was particularly sweeter considering that prior to the tournament, New Zealand had beaten England in a Test series in England after 22 years. The heartbreaks for India in the last eight years have continued and one hopes that they overcome this in the 2021 ICC World T20.
Rishabh Pant's explosive last-over blitz ignites IPL 2024 amid T20 World Cup comeback talks
