The World Champions India

If this is what transition looks like ,India will take it every day  of this champions trophy .Starting from their outing in warm up matches (although India played like India in them) to the four wins in four games in ICC Champions trophy World CHAMPIONS India is actually playing like CHAMPIONS in this CHAMPIONS Trophy. Batsmen have scored without hassle , bowlers have provided a steady feed of wickets and arguably the best team of fielders has ever put out makes India favorite for winning this last edition of champions trophy.

Amidst the rain affected champions trophy all teams were able to perform according to their reputation. While Sri Lanka had a familiar tale of resurgence- from the pain of defeat ,contract wrangles and captaincy musical-chairs ,recovering from it and reaching to the business end ,the only way they know after the 1996 world cup triumph but flunk in the matches which matters . South Africa chocked as they were supposed to and could not quite end the final edition of champions trophy on winning note as they holds  the pleasure of winning the first edition of it .Pakistan knocked out of tournament unpredictably and expectedly West Indies ,New Zealand  knocked out of the tournament. Although looking at the recent controversies and  form of Australian team no one was expecting the former champions to win this ICC Champions Trophy but the two deserving sides which so looks like to win this edition made it to the finals .The home team England and World Champions India are all set to lock horn on Sunday which should be the match of the tournament .

It is also interesting to note that England - the team which  tend to avoid IPLs and India -the team whose all players were part of IPLs ,is going to play in finals. Looking at the current form of the current both senior and junior World Champions and keeping in mind the Dhoni factor we surly can pick them as winners in Sunday’s finals , but can expect a great game of cricket amidst the home like conditions actually for both the teams -both on and off field.

Throughout the tournament one thing which had made every Indian proud apart from Indian team performance is the crowd support and packed stadium singing the National Anthem with Team India .The proud feeling which only Indian team enjoys in which ever part of the world they travels.World Champions India is truly ruling the world of Cricket.         

Adieu ICC Champions Trophy

The only tournament apart from world cup in which top teams of the world use to clash after every two years raised its curtains for the seventh and final time on June 6th  2013.

Yes, The Champions Trophy which holds a curious ,mezzanine status: elevated from the rest , but designed to squat below the best is ready to say adieu . From a concept in 1998, through six chapters, the ‘Mini-World Cup’ has found its relevance many times-and now ,it turn out, answered .The World Test Championship is going to replace Champions Trophy in 2017.     

The Champions Trophy will not be mourned , but there will undeniably be nostalgic looks back at it . After all it has thrown up some enduring memories-

South Africa riding on a young Kallis's shoulders to its only worldwide triumph till date ; New Zealand ,similarly,capturing its only big trophy,West Indian tail-enders Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne ambushing England in the darkness; a callow left-hander called Yuvraj Singh flogging Australia speechless at the Nairobia Gymkhana and of course the year 2002 final in which the teams played 110 Overs, but there was no result which India won jointly with Sri Lanka under the captaincy of the great Sourav Ganguly .

Talking about India and the man with midas touch Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is often been reminded that his collection of titles as captain does not include the Champions Trophy ,now has a last chance to have this one as well under his captaincy for team India and complete the tally of trophies. Well he performs best when he is under pressure and have a point to prove so we surly can expect this silver wear as well from him ,as ICC Champions Trophy looks like an open tournament and probably it’s the current world champion  team India only which is lead by an experienced and successful captain .     

Lets hope MSD And Co. do it one more time for India and make it even more memorable !!!!!