Ashwin Recalls His Anxiety To See India End ICC Trophy Drought: 'Day Before...'
The Indian team has now won the 2025 Champions Trophy on top of the 2024 T20 World Cup to mark a reign on absolute dominance.
India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that a day before the T20 World Cup final, he prayed for his team to win whereas it was written for India to win the Champions Trophy, adding that the current side are capable of winning a few more on the trot.
India struggled to win ICC silverware after the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph in England. But they have now won the 2025 Champions Trophy, nine months after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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Ashwin explained how crucial the T20 World Cup victory over South Africa was since it unleashed India from being a team that always stumbled in the knockouts.
“The day before the 2024 T20 World Cup Final, I was praying slightly to let India win somehow because we had not won only. We were reaching the finals and it was a case of so close, yet so far," Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“We could not win a title all those years because of luck, because we were a quality team. We could have won a lot more in the last 10 years. There were a lot of close games, but now this is an amazing feeling," Ashwin said.
The 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat remains India’s only loss across the last three ICC events.
Several reports suggested that India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s future hinged on how the team would fare at the Champions Trophy.
“Think from GG’s point of view; what would GG have been going through? Losing a series to New Zealand at home and losing a few since then, but a solid decision after that," Ashwin said.
“I think the world, as a cricketing fraternity, will take some time to catch up with the Indian team because if they are going to go on this flow and if we keep finding bowlers, then it will take some catching," Ashwin added.
The Indian team’s bowling unit, headlined by four spinners, played a crucial role in the title triumph.
India sealed an unprecedented third Champions Trophy win with an unblemished record as skipper Rohit Sharma combined his inherent freedom with resolve to inspire his team to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand.
For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favorite team stands. Stay updated on the tournament’s top performers with the Most Runs and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates!
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