JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL
The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, hosted by Sri Lanka, remains one of the most iconic tournaments in cricket history. This edition, featuring top cricketing nations, is best remembered for its dramatic and unusual conclusion, making it a standout in the annals of cricket.
The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, held from September 12 to 30 in Sri Lanka, was the third edition of the tournament and the first to feature the round-robin and knockout format. It was hosted at two venues in Colombo—the R. Premadasa Stadium and the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. The tournament saw participation from 12 teams, including the 10 Test-playing nations, Kenya (ODI status holder), and the Netherlands (2001 ICC Trophy winners).
The event was historic for Sri Lanka as it marked the first instance of all ICC member nations competing there. However, the competition culminated in an unusual conclusion with India and Sri Lanka declared joint winners after persistent rain disrupted the final and its reserve day.
The Road to the 2002 Champions Trophy Final
The journey to the 2002 Champions Trophy final was filled with high-octane matches and stellar performances. Teams like India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa displayed exceptional cricketing prowess, making the tournament a showcase of talent and competition.
India, led by Sourav Ganguly, looked formidable, powered by a well-balanced squad featuring young talents and seasoned campaigners.
The Unforgettable 2002 Champions Trophy Final
The 2002 Champions Trophy final, contested between India and Sri Lanka, was held at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. However, the match gained notoriety for its conclusion, as rain forced the final to be played over two days, both of which ended without a result. Consequently, the ICC declared both teams joint winners.
Champions Trophy 2002 Final Scorecard
| Batsman | Dismissal | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanath Jayasuriya (c) | b Khan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kumar Sangakkara † | run out (Mongia/Harbhajan Singh) | 26 | 46 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 56.52 |
| Marvan Atapattu | c Mongia b Agarkar | 10 | 17 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 58.82 |
| Aravinda de Silva | c Kaif b Kumble | 27 | 24 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | c Ganguly b Khan | 77 | 99 | 125 | 6 | 0 | 77.77 |
| Russel Arnold | not out | 56 | 101 | 134 | 3 | 0 | 55.44 |
| Upul Chandana | c Kaif b Harbhajan Singh | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Chaminda Vaas | c Kumble b Khan | 17 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 170.00 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran | not out | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | (nb 1, w 7) | 8 | |||||
| Total | 50 Ov (RR: 4.44, 211 Mins) | 222/7 |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ | Dots | 4s | 6s | Nb | Wd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | 9 | 1 | 44 | 3 | 4.88 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ajit Agarkar | 5 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 7.20 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 10 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 3.40 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anil Kumble | 10 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 4.10 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Virender Sehwag | 8 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 3.87 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 8 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 4.50 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Batsman | Dismissal | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinesh Mongia | c Jayawardene b Vaas | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Virender Sehwag | not out | 25 | 22 | 48 | 3 | 1 | 113.63 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | not out | 7 | 22 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 31.81 |
| Extras | (b 1, nb 1, w 4) | 6 | |||||
| Total | 8.4 Ov (RR: 4.38, 48 Mins) | 38/1 |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ | Dots | 4s | 6s | Wd | Nb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminda Vaas | 4.4 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 5.14 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dilhara Fernando | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Highlights and Key Matches
Pool Stages:
- Pool 1: Australia dominated, advancing with wins over New Zealand and Bangladesh.
- Pool 2: India excelled, highlighted by Virender Sehwag’s 126 (104) against England.
- Pool 3: South Africa, powered by Herschelle Gibbs’ performances, secured their place in the knockouts.
- Pool 4: Hosts Sri Lanka qualified with commanding victories, including a 202-run win over the Netherlands.
Semi-Finals:
- India vs South Africa:
- India defended 261, winning by 10 runs. Virender Sehwag shone with a pivotal all-round performance.
- Sri Lanka vs Australia:
- Australia was restricted to 162, with Muttiah Muralitharan and Aravinda de Silva dismantling their batting. Sri Lanka chased down the target with ease.
Final:
- Rain washed out the match on both September 29 and the reserve day, leaving the teams as joint winners.
Top Performers
- Most Runs: Virender Sehwag (India) – 271 runs (average 90.33), including a century and a half-century.
- Most Wickets: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 10 wickets with best figures of 4/15.
- Notable Performances:
- Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa): Two centuries and a tournament-high batting average of 120.
- Andy Flower (Zimbabwe): Highest individual score (145 vs. India).
ICC Champions Trophy 2002 Winner: Joint Victors
The ICC Champions Trophy 2002 winner was an unprecedented outcome, as India and Sri Lanka shared the title. This unique result marked the first and only instance of joint winners in ICC tournament history.
The 2002 Champions Trophy India Squad
The 2002 Champions Trophy India squad, captained by Sourav Ganguly, featured a blend of experience and youth. Key players included:
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virender Sehwag
- Rahul Dravid
- Yuvraj Singh
- Harbhajan Singh
This squad played a pivotal role in India’s impressive journey to the final.
Legacy of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy
The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy left a lasting impression on cricket fans worldwide. Despite the anticlimactic final, the tournament showcased some memorable performances and highlighted the growing competitiveness of international cricket.
Check out the Champions Trophy Schedule, Champions Trophy Live Score, Champions Trophy Squads , Champions Trophy Stats Champions Trophy Tour, Champions Trophy Venues & Champions Trophy Latest News here!
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Matches
Pakistan vs New Zealand - 1st Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs India - 2nd Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs South Africa - 3rd Match, Group B | Australia vs England - 4th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs India - 5th Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs New Zealand - 6th Match, Group A | Australia vs South Africa - 7th Match, Group B | Afghanistan vs England - 8th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs Bangladesh - 9th Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs Australia - 10th Match, Group B | England vs South Africa - 11th Match, Group B | New Zealand vs India - 12th Match, Group A | TBA vs TBA, 1st Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, 2nd Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, Final |
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Teams
PAKISTAN | NEW ZEALAND | BANGLADESH | INDIA | AFGHANISTAN | SOUTH AFRICA | AUSTRALIA | ENGLAND
