Can India win WTC final 2023?
The World Test Championship (WTC) final will be India’s second attempt in as many editions to win the ultimate prize. India came close the first time round as well when they lost out to New Zealand in a rain-hampered final at Southampton in 2021. It was yet another ICC knockout game that the side ended up losing. Let us look at Can India win WTC final 2023 in detail.
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The wrong end of luck in ICC tournaments:
India’s luck has been barren in the crunch games in ICC tournaments. Right from the T20 World Cup final loss in 2014 to the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss, India are without an ICC prize for 10 years. The side has been one of the most consistent across all formats but an ICC title has eluded them. There is silent anticipation and quiet prayer for India to bag the ultimate Test crown when they take the field for WTC 2023 final.
India’s ICC trophy wins so far:
#1 ODI World Cup, 1983
India was 1-66 odds on favourite to win the World Cup in 1983. Nobody in their wildest dreams predicted that India would go on to win the World Cup. The Kapil Dev-led side went on to do just that. They beat the mighty West Indies team twice in the tournament including the final. India was the superior side in the World Cup and deserved to win. It was India’s first-ever ICC tournament win!
#2 Champions Trophy, 2002
India walked into this tournament high on confidence. They had won a thrilling Natwest series final in England ending their tri-series draught. India was one of the favourites for the tournament. They had an outstanding run right throughout the tournament. India breezed their way into the finals. But rain ruled the roost for two days in a row as India and Sri Lanka were declared joint-winners. India became the first side to win both major ICC trophies.
#3 T20 World Cup, 2007
The narrative was pretty similar to the 1983 ODI World Cup. India walked into the tournament with zero expectations. The side had played just a solitary T20 before the mega event. But India surprised everyone with their determined showing that resulted in them being crowned the inaugural T20 World Cup champions. India once again became the first team to win all the 3 coveted ICC trophies.
#4 ODI World Cup, 2011
There was enormous pressure riding on the Indian team for the home World Cup in 2011. No side had ever won an ODI World Cup at home until then. The Indian team performed exceedingly well barring a slip-up to win the tournament convincingly. It is arguably one of India’s finest-ever sides that played the ODI game. India joined the list of West Indies and Australia to win multiple ODI World Cups.
#5 Champions Trophy, 2013
MS Dhoni’s captaincy came full circle with this tournament. It was indeed the golden era of Indian cricket where the side won every major final they played in. Dhoni led a young but passionate Indian side to glory in England in the Champions Trophy in 2013. India held both the World Cup and Champions Trophy at once. MS Dhoni had pocketed all ICC trophies within a span of 6 years!
Can India add one more with WTC 2023?
The fans eagerly await an addition to this trophy cabinet. A WTC win will once again make India the first side to win all four ICC majors. The hype might not be huge leading up to the start of the WTC Final but expect the roof to come down once the Indian side wins the crown!
