It is regrettable that the conclusion of a 50-over tournament was determined by a Twenty20 match.

One might expect that the captain of the defeated team would express this sentiment. However, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni who articulated this viewpoint during the post-match press conference, shortly after India secured a narrow five-run victory over England in the interrupted final of the 2013 Champions Trophy.

The match took place at Edgbaston in Birmingham, where England was the host nation; nevertheless, there was no ambiguity regarding the overwhelming support for India. A vast sea of blue filled the stands, generating an infectious noise and an electrifying atmosphere rarely witnessed at a cricket match in England.

As the final approached on June 23, India stood as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having dominated Group B with three impressive victories and defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets with 15 overs remaining in the semifinal. England had excelled against South Africa in the first semifinal, thereby positioning themselves favorably to claim their first global 50-over title.

Birmingham rain forces T20 finale

On a particularly frustrating Sunday, there were extended moments when it seemed the teams might be declared joint winners. In its boundless wisdom, the International Cricket Council chose not to schedule a reserve day—after all, when has it ever rained in England during June? As the rain poured down, the prospects of any play dwindled, yet the enthusiasm of a packed, pro-India crowd remained undeterred. Ultimately, with an additional 75 minutes added to the scheduled conclusion to secure a result, the match commenced at 4:20 PM as a 20-over-a-side contest. This led to Dhoni's succinct post-match remark, which subtly criticized the decision-making of the governing authorities.

Alastair Cook had no reservations about choosing to field first, and India’s innings struggled to gain momentum under the gloomy skies and saturated outfield. Remarkably, the pitch not only stayed dry but began to favor spin as the match progressed, a factor that would prove crucial in the outcome.

Despite Shikhar Dhawans efforts, India failed to reach even 60 runs by the halfway point of a 20-over match played under 50-over regulations. The absence of a single block of six Powerplay overs further hampered India's performance. A lack of momentum and a palpable sense of anxiety characterized their innings, with Virat Kohli contributing 43 runs and Ravindra Jadeja adding a brisk unbeaten 33 off 25 balls, allowing India to finish at 129 for seven amidst rain interruptions. Interestingly, Ravi Bopara's medium pace emerged as a standout for England, as he concluded with figures of three wickets for 20 runs.

As India prepared to defend their modest total, Dhoni advised his players to rely solely on their own efforts, stating, “We have to do it all ourselves.” Umesh Yadav took this message to heart, dismissing Cook in the second over. India maintained the pressure through the efforts of Jadeja and R. Ashwin. When Jonathan Trott came to the crease, Dhoni instructed Ashwin to bowl a leg-stump line from around the wicket, anticipating that the right-hander might lose his balance if the ball turned from that angle. True to the captain’s strategy, the plan unfolded as intended.

The dynamics of the match shifted dramatically as the previously silent crowd found its voice once more. When Bopara was dismissed, England required 20 runs from 14 balls, with six wickets still in hand. By the beginning of the 19th over, the target had narrowed to 19 runs off 11 balls; however, Jadeja's dismissal of Jos Buttler and Tim Bresnan's run-out triggered a wave of panic among the English players as India intensified their attack in the penultimate over, employing a slip, a gully, and a silly point. The tension was palpable.

In the final over, Dhoni turned to his reliable bowler, Ashwin, with 15 runs still needed. The off-spinner delivered six outstanding balls, allowing only nine runs as Stuart Broad and James Tredwell struggled to score against him. This victory was not only a testament to the effectiveness of the spinners but also highlighted Dhoni's brilliance as a strategist, a man known for his exceptional decision-making.

Brief scores: India: 129/7 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 31, Virat Kohli 43, Ravindra Jadeja 33 n.o.; Ravi Bopara 3-20) defeated England: 124/8 in 20 overs (Eoin Morgan 33, Ravi Bopara 30; Ravindra Jadeja 2-24, R Ashwin 2-15, Ishant Sharma 2-36) by five runs. Player of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja.

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