Page 42 - The Indian EYE 070122

SPORTS JULY 01, 2022 | The Indian Eye 42

INDIA IN ENGLAND

A time to look back at a great win and

time to look forward to big challenge

As the Indian team heads to England for a Test, some bits of action on and off the field

OUR BUREAU chandran Ashwin 2/15) by five runs.
London ROHIT SHARMA COMPLETES
n June 23, 2013, India cap- 15 YEARS WITH TEAM INDIA
tured their first ICC Cham-
Opions Trophy title, defeating ndian batter Rohit Sharma
took to social media to share a
England by five runs in the finals at Iheart-warming message on com-
the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Bir- pleting 15 years in international cricket.
mingham. “Hello everyone, Today I will be
Heading into the match, India
was undefeated in the tournament, completing 15 years of international
cricket since I made my debut for In-
having won all three of their group dia. What a journey it has been, surely
stage matches and defeating Sri Lan- one that I will cherish for the rest of
ka by eight wickets in the semi-finals. my life. I just want to thank everyone
England had won two of their three who has been a part of this journey
group stage matches and had defeated and a special thanks to the people
South Africa by seven wickets in the who helped me become the player
semi-finals. The rain had reduced the that I am today. To all the cricket lov-
contest to a 20 overs per side match. ers, fans and critics your love and sup-
Put to bat first by England, India
did not have a very good start, losing port for the team is what gets us over
those hurdles we all inevitably come
opener Rohit Sharma for just 9 at the across. Thanking you, RS,” said the
team’s score of 19 in the fourth over. star Indian batter in his message.
Later, Virat Kohli and Shikhar
Rohit Sharma has completed his
Dhawan tried to rebuild the innings, 15 years in international cricket for
but their promising 31-run stand end- India. He made his ODI debut for
ed with Dhawan falling for 31 to bat- the national side on this day in 2007
ting all-rounder Ravi Bopara. After- against Ireland in Belfast.
wards, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina Though he did not get an oppor-
and skipper MS Dhoni fell in quick M S Dhoni led the Indian side in the big win tunity to bat in that match, he would
succession, sinking India to 66/5. go on to become a mainstay of Indian
Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra
Jadeja took in their hands to rebuild Ravichandran Ashwin. five runs of the title, with their innings batting in the coming years. Starting
off as a primarily middle-order batter
Spinner Ravindra Jadeja and ending at 124/8 in their 20 overs.
things for India, stitching a 47-run Ashwin continued dominating the Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for India, he did impress on numerous
stand. Pacer James Anderson took English batting, with Joe Root (7) and (2/15) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/24) occasions and won some games for In-
the breakthrough, dismissing Kohli Ian Bell (13) being their next wickets, dominated the English batting and dia but it was his elevation as an open-
for 43 off 34. sinking England to 4/46. emerged as the best bowlers for India. er in 2013 that changed his career.
JADEJA TOOK INDIA TO 129/7 With England in trouble, Eoin Ishant Sharma also took two wickets Following his elevation to the
IN THEIR 20 OVERS. Morgan (33) and Ravi Bopara (30) while Umesh Yadav took one. opening position, he went on to be-
stepped up and stitched a 64-run Jadeja took home the ‘Man of the come one of the greatest and most
avi Bopara was the pick of the stand that drove their side out of trou- Match’ award for his crucial 33* and consistent batters of this generation,
bowlers for England, taking ble. When pacer Ishant Sharma broke 2/24. hitting three double centuries in
R3/20 in four overs. James Tred- the partnership by dismissing Mor- India clinched their maiden ICC ODIs, becoming the only batter to
well, Anderson and Stuart Broad got gan, England was 5/110 in 17.3 overs. Champions Trophy and skipper MS do so. He formed a highly successful
a wicket each too. The equation was down to 20 Dhoni became the first skipper to win opening pair with Shikhar Dhawan.
Set 130 run target to take the runs off 15 balls. Ravi Bopara, Jos all the major ICC titles, having won In 230 ODI games, Sharma has
trophy home, England got off a bad Buttler and Tim Bresnan fell in quick ICC World T20 2007 and ICC Cricket scored 9,283 runs at an average of
start, captain Alastair Cook fell for 2 succession and England sunk to 113/8 World Cup 2011. 48.60. His highest score in the format
in the second over, being dismissed by in 18.4 overs. Brief Scores: India 129/7 (Virat is 264. He has hit 29 centuries and 44
pacer Umesh Yadav. Afterwards, Ian England needed 17 runs in 8 balls. Kohli 43, Ravindra Jadeja 33*, Ravi half-centuries in the 50-over format.
Bell and Jonathan Trott attempted to India displayed an excellent display of Bopara 3/20) defeated 124/8 (Eoin He won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the
rebuild, but Trott fell for 20 to spinner death bowling, leaving the English Morgan 33, Ravi Bopara 30, Ravi- Continued at next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com