India’s victories in the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2024 T20 World Cup were marked by electrifying finishes and outstanding performances by Indian players, but a closer examination reveals intriguing similarities between the two events. One of the most striking similarities is the introduction of new opening pairs in both tournaments. In the 2013 Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opened for India against South Africa, while in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit and Virat Kohli formed an unlikely opening partnership. This move demonstrated the flexibility of Indian captaincy and the willingness to adapt to new situations.
The benching of specialist players for the entire tournament was another notable coincidence. MS Dhoni kept Murali Vijay and Amit Mishra on the sidelines throughout the 2013 Champions Trophy, while Rohit Sharma followed a similar strategy in the 2024 T20 World Cup by leaving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal outside the playing XI. This decision allowed the team to focus on their strengths and adapt to different playing conditions. The Indian team’s preparation time before each tournament also shared a common trait. The 2013 Champions Trophy was played after a five-month break from ODIs, with India’s last match before the tournament taking place on January 27. Similarly, the 2024 T20 World Cup came after a four-month layoff following India’s last T20I against Sri Lanka. This time allowed the team to recharge and regroup, which ultimately contributed to their success.
Rohit Sharma T20 2024 (Via Rohit Sharma/Twitter)
The partnership formation during the final matches of both tournaments is another area of similarity. Virat Kohli, who was the top-scorer in both finals, joined forces with left-arm spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja in 2013 and Axar Patel in 2024 to stabilise the innings. Finally, there is a peculiar similarity in the scores of Rohit Sharma and Indian wicketkeepers in the final matches of both tournaments. Rohit was dismissed for nine in both finals, while Rishabh Pant scored a duck in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. MS Dhoni, India’s wicketkeeper in 2013, also got out for a duck in the final. These coincidences highlight the challenges faced by Indian batsmen and wicketkeepers in big-pressure matches and demonstrate their ability to bounce back from setbacks.
These unnoticed coincidences between India’s 2013 Champions Trophy and 2024 T20 World Cup wins reveal the common themes and challenges faced by the Indian team during these two successful campaigns. They also demonstrate the adaptability and creativity of Indian captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in finding new ways to succeed under pressure.
