Often referred to as the ‘Mini World Cup’, the Champions Trophy has long been celebrated as one of the prestigious tournaments. Since its inception in 1998, till its last version in 2017, the tournament has provided thrilling contests, historical moments, and dramatic upsets. The 50-over event is held every four years. As the cricketing countries gear for the ninth edition of the tourney, let’s look at the past winners of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Inaugural Tournament (1998): South Africa’s Triumph
The first-ever Champions Trophy was held in 1998 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. South Africa, led by Hansie Cronje, emerged victorious by defeating the West Indies in the final. This victory marked the beginning of what would become a key tournament in the cricketing calendar. Inaugural Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy, couldn’t manage to win the subsequent editions.
New Zealand: The Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2000
The 2000 edition, held in Kenya, saw New Zealand clinch their first major ICC trophy. Under the leadership of Stephen Fleming, the Kiwis defeated India in the final. The match went to the wire where the Black Ferns scored winning runs with just two balls to spare. All-rounder Chris Cairns played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 102 to guide New Zealand to victory.
2002 Edition: A Shared Title
The 2002 edition, held in Sri Lanka, ended in a historic tie. The final between India and Sri Lanka was washed out twice due to rain, and the title was shared. This was India’s first major ICC trophy since their famous 1983 World Cup win. Despite heavy rain spoiling the show on the day of the final as well as the reserved day, the hosts played both innings for fifty overs while India only got 11 overs combined.
The West Indies in 2004: A Classic Win
The 2004 tournament, held in England, witnessed a fairytale comeback by the West Indies. Led by the legendary Brian Lara, the Caribbean side defeated England in a thrilling final. Staged at the Oval, London, hosts could only bundle up 217 courtesy of a 104 by English opener Marcus Trescothick. Seemingly an easy target, the Windies’ batting line-up was almost choked by the opponent’s bowlers. But a hero’s knock from Ian Bradshaw helped his team cross the winning line and earned him the Man of the Match Award.
Australia, Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006
Australia were the winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006. Held in India, the Aussie squad was led by Ricky Ponting. They defeated the West Indies in the final to claim their first Champions Trophy title. They were up against the defending champion West Indies. The Caribbean team could only set a target of 138 runs. As if the target wasn’t meek enough, the rain further reduced it to 116 making the win a walk in the park for the Yellow Caps.
This win was part of Australia’s golden era in cricket, as they went on to win the 2007 World Cup and consistently dominate all formats of the game.
Australia’s Back-to-Back Win in 2009
Australia continued their dominance in the 2009 edition, held in South Africa. They defeated New Zealand in the final to claim their second consecutive Champions Trophy title. The tournament showcased Australia’s depth and versatility, with Mitchell Johnson and Tim Paine playing key roles. This victory further solidified Australia’s reputation as the best ODI team of the era.
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India’s Triumph in England in 2013 Edition
India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory is one of the most iconic in tournament history. India defeated England in a rain-affected final to win their second Champions Trophy title. India’s balanced squad, led by MS Dhoni, was a testament to their cricketing prowess across all departments. Shikar Dhawan emerged as the top scorer for India. With this tournament win came India’s trophy drought. The men in blue failed to bring home glory in all the ICC events that followed up until 2024, where they won a T20 World Cup to break the win hiatus.
Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy: Pakistan’s Surprising Triumph in 2017
The last one in the list of winners of the ICC Champions Trophy. The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final saw Pakistan stun the world by defeating India in what was a classic upset. While India went into the final as the overwhelming favourites, Pakistan produced an outstanding all-round performance to claim their first-ever Champions Trophy title. Fakhar Zaman’s explosive century, and Muhammad Amir’s and Hasan Ali’s fiery bowling were the highlights of the tournament. This marked Pakistan’s most comprehensive win over India in the 50-over format.
Key Stats and Records
There are many winners of the ICC Champions Trophy. Here are some of the Trophy records shared by players from different countries
- Most Titles: Australia (2)
- Most Runs: Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 791 runs
- Most Wickets: Kyle Mills (New Zealand) – 28 wickets
- Highest Score: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) – 114* in the 2017 final
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