Kolkata : Remember ICC Champions Trophy 2000? India vs New Zealand were finalists, and the Men in Blue under then India’s revolutionary captain Sourav Ganguly faced defeat from verge of a win? The wounds were still fresh, well not anymore!
What happened in ICC Knock Out 2000?
New Zealand under Stephen Fleming faced in form India in ICC Knock Out (Now Champions Trophy) 2000 Final, revolutionised side under young Sourav Ganguly. Batting first India posted 264 runs, a good total in those days, with Ganguly smashed 117 (130) & Sachin Tendulkar scoring 69 (83) at Nairobi.
Defending 265 runs India were on drivers seat restricting New Zealand to 132-5 in 23.3 overs. However, Chris Cairns from New Zealand lower order became a nightmare figure for Indian team.
Cairns smashed unbeaten 102* (113) and shattered all Trophy winning hopes for Ganguly and company.
India, seeking revenge, got hands to the Trophy in 2013 under MS Dhoni, and also won in 2002 being joint winners with Sri Lanka, but defeating New Zealand in the final remained a distant dream, as the 2 teams never met again in CT final in 25 years.
ICC CT 2025 Final – Completion of Revenge
The dream of revenge was finally fulfilled yesterday (March 9, 2025) at Dubai. India and New Zealand met at Dubai yet again in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Bowling first, India restricted New Zealand to 251-7 (50) with Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav picking 2 fers.
India chased down the total in 49 overs, with skipper Rohit Sharma (76), Shreyas Iyer (48), KL Rahul (34*) playing heroic knocks, thereby, defeating New Zealand by 4 wickets.
The wounds of defeat which India suffered 25 years ago in 2000, are finally relaxed in 2025 by Rohit Sharma and his men. It’s as if they’re telling to Sourav Ganguly – “Our revenge is complete Dada”.
