The ICC 2025 Champions Trophy is round the corner. The ICC tournament which happens every four years sees the best 8 cricketing nations come together and find out which is the best team in the 50-over format.
After a lot of helter and skelter, the tournament; scheduled to happen in Pakistan, is about to begin albeit a lot of conditions. Team India, a major contender to lift the trophy will not be playing its matches in Pakistan. Instead, Team India will be playing all of its matches in Dubai. This will surely impact the viewership and attendance in Pakistan.
This will be the seventh edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with Pakistan being crowned the champions after defeating Team India in a one-sided contest. Across the six editions, there have been many thrilling and exciting matches, keeping us on the edge of our seats.
In this article, we will be looking at the top 5 thrilling Champions Trophy matches of all time.
Top 5 thrilling matches of all time from the Champions Trophy
1. India vs Pakistan – Final (2017)
- Venue: The Oval, London
- Date: June 18, 2017
- Result: Pakistan won by 180 runs
- Highlight: Pakistan’s remarkable underdog victory in the final against India.
Match Context:
Pakistan, after a shaky start in the tournament, stunned everyone by making it to the final. Their arch-rivals, India, were the defending champions and favourites to win. The final, set in the iconic Oval, was a massive occasion with both teams having passionate fan bases, making the clash even more special.
Key Moments:
- Fakhar Zaman’s Century: Fakhar Zaman’s scintillating 114 off 106 balls laid the foundation for Pakistan’s total of 338/4. His match-winning knock came under intense pressure, and he became the first Pakistani to score a century in a Champions Trophy final.
- Mohammad Amir’s Magic: Mohammad Amir’s spell was the turning point of the match. He dismissed both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early, leaving India reeling at 33/2. His brilliance with the ball (3/16) ensured that India could never recover from their early setbacks.
- India’s Collapse: Despite the presence of cricketing giants like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, India was never able to mount a serious challenge, falling for just 158 in 30.3 overs. The contrast between Pakistan’s clinical performance and India’s failure made this a historic moment.
Why It’s Iconic:
This was one of the biggest upsets in cricket history, especially considering Pakistan’s form leading up to the final. Pakistan’s dominance over India in that game was total, with Amir and Zaman delivering under extreme pressure. The victory was an emotional one for Pakistan, ending their Champions Trophy campaign in style.
2. West Indies vs South Africa – Semi-final (2006)
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Date: October 1, 2006
- Result: West Indies won by 3 wickets
- Highlight: Chris Gayle’s attacking century led the West Indies to a thrilling chase.
Match Context:
West Indies faced South Africa in a high-stakes semi-final. South Africa posted a competitive total of 258/9 in their allotted 50 overs. The West Indies, who had previously faltered in big matches, needed something special to pull off the win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 final.
Key Moments:
- Chris Gayle’s Explosive Knock: Chris Gayle’s 133* off 135 balls was an innings that lit up the match. His controlled aggression and powerful shots across the ground ensured West Indies stayed on course throughout the chase. He held the innings together as wickets fell around him.
- South Africa’s Demise: Despite posting a decent total, South Africa faltered in their bowling attack. They failed to contain Gayle, and their inability to break the partnership caused their downfall. The match was a dramatic contest between batting and bowling, and Gayle’s brilliance ultimately proved too much.
- West Indies’ Close Finish: The West Indies chased down the target with just three wickets to spare. The win was a huge achievement for the team, who had suffered numerous heartbreaks in the knockout stages before this.
Why It’s Iconic:
This match is remembered for Gayle’s dominance with the bat, and it stands as one of the most thrilling semi-finals. Gayle’s performance in a knockout game elevated his reputation as one of the most dangerous players in world cricket. The match is a testament to how individual brilliance can carry a team to victory.
3. India vs South Africa – Group Stage (2002)
- Venue: Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Date: September 19, 2002
- Result: India won by 4 wickets
- Highlight: Sehwag and Yuvraj’s counter-attacking partnership steers India to victory.
Match Context:
India, after a loss to Sri Lanka in their opening game, needed to win this match to stay alive in the tournament. South Africa set a challenging target of 270, and India’s response was filled with drama. At 135/5, India’s chances seemed bleak, but Sehwag and Yuvraj had other plans.
Key Moments:
- Yuvraj Singh’s Sensational Knock: Yuvraj Singh’s 62 off 52 balls played a crucial role in India’s chase. His attacking stroke play shifted the momentum in India’s favour.
- Virender Sehwag’s Calm Head: Sehwag’s unorthodox and free-flowing 58 off 54 balls complemented Yuvraj’s aggressive innings. The two formed an important partnership that kept India on track. Sehwag’s ability to play unorthodox shots against top bowlers made this chase remarkable.
- Dinesh Mongia Finishes It: With India still needing a few runs to win, Dinesh Mongia sealed the match with a calm finish.
Why It’s Iconic:
The match highlighted the emergence of India’s future stars, with Sehwag and Yuvraj playing a crucial role. Their fearless approach to the chase made this one of the most memorable victories in India’s Champions Trophy history.
4. Sri Lanka vs India – Final (2002) [Shared Trophy]
- Venue: Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Date: October 29-31, 2002
- Result: No result (Trophy shared)
- Highlight: The final had two rain interruptions, leading to the trophy being shared.
Match Context:
The 2002 Champions Trophy final between Sri Lanka and India was a rain-affected, dramatic contest. The rain interruptions made it one of the most talked-about finals, despite the absence of a definitive winner.
Key Moments:
- India’s Dominance in the First Final: India’s batting was impressive, with Sehwag and Tendulkar giving them a strong start. The rain broke play, and the match was abandoned without a result.
- Sri Lanka’s Response in the Second Attempt: In the second final, Sri Lanka dominated the initial proceedings, but the rains interrupted again, and no result could be declared.
Why It’s Iconic:
Though no result was reached, the drama and uncertainty brought on by the rain made this a memorable event. The decision to share the trophy between the two sides created significant debate in the cricketing community.
5. Australia vs New Zealand – Final (2009)
- Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion
- Date: June 22, 2009
- Result: Australia won by 6 runs
- Highlight: Shane Watson’s composed century leads Australia to victory.
Match Context:
The ICC Champions Trophy 2009 final was a low-scoring thriller. Australia posted a modest total of 200, but New Zealand’s chase was a nail-biting one.
Key Moments:
- Shane Watson’s Resilience: Australia, after losing quick wickets, owed their total to Shane Watson’s solid knock of 105* off 129 balls. His composed batting on a difficult pitch ensured Australia posted a defendable score.
- New Zealand’s Fightback: Despite a valiant effort from New Zealand, they were kept under check by Australia’s bowlers, particularly Mitchell Johnson, who claimed 2 wickets in key moments. New Zealand fell just 6 runs short and bowled out for 194.
Why It’s Iconic:
Australia’s gritty performance, despite a low total, and Watson’s resilience make this final one of the closest and most memorable. It also marked Australia’s dominance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, securing their second consecutive title.
Other Notable Mentions:
India vs England – Final (2013)
The Ind vs Eng 2013 Champions Trophy final is one of India’s most famous victories. The rain-marred game had to be shortened to 20 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli played brilliantly to take the team total to 129 for 7 in their total quota of 20 overs. In return, England were cruising at one stage. However, Team India found an unlikely hero in Ishant Sharma. The right-arm speedster dismissed Bopara and Morgan in the 18th over off successive deliveries after starting it with a six and two wides.
This change and some tight bowling in the death gave Team India its second ICC Champions Trophy win in 2013.
England vs West Indies – Final (2004)
After dominating the 70s and 80s, the West Indies team found themselves playing below-par cricket. However, a sort of resurgence happened during the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy when the Windies managed to reach the final and eventually win the tournament.
Batting first, England posted a score of 214 on the back of Marcus Trescothick’s knock of 104 runs off 124 balls. The Windies chasing didn’t have a great start, losing half their side with just 80 runs on the scoreboard. However, Shivnarine Chanderpaul combined with Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw put together more than 100 runs to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The 9th wicket partnership between Browne and Bradshaw put on 71 runs to give the Windies their first-ever Champions Trophy win.
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