New Delhi [India]: Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has opened up about India’s struggles while chasing in ICC tournaments, stressing the need to put runs on the board in major finals.
“We couldn’t chase in the 2015 World Cup against Australia. We couldn’t chase the total in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2017 final. We tried chasing in 2019, but we couldn’t do it. We didn’t have to chase in the 2013 Champions Trophy final. So, it’s important to put runs on the board in a big final. Sometimes, we make mistakes, but we learn from them. I don’t think we’ll make those mistakes in 2025,” Raina said, as quoted by JioHotstar.
The 2017 Champions Trophy Final: A Painful Memory
One of India’s most disappointing chasing failures came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a commanding 338/4 in 50 overs, led by Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant 114 off 106 balls. His knock, studded with 12 boundaries and three sixes, set the tone for a dominant performance.
India’s chase fell apart right from the start, as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the first over, followed by Virat Kohli falling for just five runs to Mohammad Amir. Within the first three overs, India was struggling at 6/2.
Despite a valiant effort from Hardik Pandya, who smashed 76 off 43 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes, India crumbled under the relentless pressure from Pakistan’s bowling attack. Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali claimed three wickets each, bundling India out for just 158 in 30.3 overs, resulting in a crushing 180-run defeat.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Champions Trophy
With another ICC tournament on the horizon, Raina remains optimistic that Team India will learn from past mistakes. He believes that prioritizing strong first-innings totals will be crucial to avoiding similar heartbreaks in the future.