The 2002 Champions Trophy was held in Sri Lanka and India were quietly confident about their capabilities - Ganguly had built a good side with a combination of solid batting (Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Kaif), explosive strength (Sehwag, Yuvraj) and useful bowlers (Harbhajan, Kumble, Zaheer, Nehra). Overall, it was a champion side.
In this tournament, India defeated Zimbabwe and England on their way to semifinals. Kaif, Sehwag and Ganguly scored centuries in the run-up to ensure that the team was cruising. The semifinal was against South Africa who were equal to the task. It was a riveting match with the pendulum swinging both sides. Sehwag and Yuvraj provided the runs for the Indians to post a total of 261 on the board. Sehwag playing his customary innings to give the innings off to a good start. Yuvraj consolidated and played almost till the end of the innings.
The South Africans started with a blip (losing Greame Smith) but then Gibbs and Kallis put on a huge stand. Ganguly was losing ideas when India received an opportunity when Gibbs retired due to cramps. Playing like tigers, the Indians with their tight fielding and brilliant catching (Yuvraj off Jonty Rhodes was a classic). Regular breakthroughs meant that the Indian team were gaining confidence in the match. The last over (with 21 runs to get) was given to Sehwag who had taken two wickets already. Despite Kallis being at the crease, Viru managed to pull it off by not only taking wicket of Kallis but also restricting the scoring to ten.
India had gone through to the finals of the Champions Trophy again! But, due to heavy rain on two consecutive days, the tournament finished with both India and Sri Lanka sharing the trophy!
In this tournament, India defeated Zimbabwe and England on their way to semifinals. Kaif, Sehwag and Ganguly scored centuries in the run-up to ensure that the team was cruising. The semifinal was against South Africa who were equal to the task. It was a riveting match with the pendulum swinging both sides. Sehwag and Yuvraj provided the runs for the Indians to post a total of 261 on the board. Sehwag playing his customary innings to give the innings off to a good start. Yuvraj consolidated and played almost till the end of the innings.
The South Africans started with a blip (losing Greame Smith) but then Gibbs and Kallis put on a huge stand. Ganguly was losing ideas when India received an opportunity when Gibbs retired due to cramps. Playing like tigers, the Indians with their tight fielding and brilliant catching (Yuvraj off Jonty Rhodes was a classic). Regular breakthroughs meant that the Indian team were gaining confidence in the match. The last over (with 21 runs to get) was given to Sehwag who had taken two wickets already. Despite Kallis being at the crease, Viru managed to pull it off by not only taking wicket of Kallis but also restricting the scoring to ten.
India had gone through to the finals of the Champions Trophy again! But, due to heavy rain on two consecutive days, the tournament finished with both India and Sri Lanka sharing the trophy!
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