The Curse Continues: India’s Struggles in ICC Tournaments Since 2013

India, despite being one of the most dominant teams in the present times, has struggled to win an ICC title post-2013 Champions Trophy. India has a decent record in ICC tournaments, winning two World Cups, two Champions Trophies, and a T20 World Cup. India is currently one of the strongest all-format teams and often enters the main stage as the favorite but is unable to lift the trophy. Since 2013, India’s record in ICC tournaments’ knockouts has been bleak, with no wins in eight ICC events. India is struggling badly in the ongoing final of the World Test Championship, and a win for India seems unlikely. However, Let’s look closer at all the ICC events that India has lost since 2013.

1. 2014 T20 World Cup

This was the first ICC event after the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the expectations from the fans and media were sky-high. India dominated the group stages of the 2014 T20 World Cup and justified the tag of favorites. India proceeded to the final by comprehensively defeating South Africa, but the final is where things went sideways for India as they could only score 130 in the 20 overs. Sri Lanka easily chased down the total in the 18th over, and the curse on India In ICC tournaments began.

2. 2015 World Cup

India, the then defending champions, again dominated the group stages and advanced to the quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup undefeated. India faced Bangladesh in the quarter-final, and they were too good for them as India won by 109 runs. India met the hosts, Australia, in the all-important semi-final of the World Cup. Australia posted a total of 328 courtesy of Steve Smith and Aaron Finch, and India, in response, tumbled under pressure as they could only score 233 and were bowled out in the 47th over.

3. 2016 T20 World Cup

India was hosting the 2016 T20 World Cup and were declared the favorites to win the event even before it began. Virat Kohli, at the peak of his powers, home advantage, and a solid bowling lineup, Indian fans were certain that the trophy would come home this time. Still, fate had other ideas as India lost to West Indies in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium despite showing some excellent skill and hunger throughout the tournament.

4. 2017 Champions Trophy

The defeat which hurt Indian fans the most was the 2017 Champions Trophy Final against Pakistan. India was a better team throughout the competition and even defeated Pakistan in the group stages, but Pakistan stood out as the superior team in the final as Pakistan defeated India by a massive margin of 180 runs.

5. 2019 World Cup

India showed proper dominance throughout the 2019 World Cup, winning seven of the nine group-stage games. After prevailing in the group stages, India repeated the same old story in the semi-final, losing the game by 18 runs. This is when India failing in the ICC tournaments officially became a thing.

6. WTC 2019-2021

India reached the final of the inaugural edition of the WTC but again lost to New Zealand in the final. India was brilliant throughout the 2019-2021 WTC Cycle and even defeated Australia in Australia during this period.

7. 2021 T20 World Cup

This was probably the first ICC event in the last 8-9 years where India didn’t reach the later stages as they were knocked out of the group stages, and this event also marked the end of India’s World Cup streak against Pakistan.

8. 2022 T20 World Cup

India got off to a flyer of a start to their 2022 T20 World Cup campaign, thanks to Kohli. India went to the semi-final with only one defeat in 5 games. India posted a total of 168 in the semi-final, which England comfortably chased in 16 overs with ten wickets remaining.

Also Read: ICC Knockout Heroes

India in ICC tournaments hasn’t been able to provide the finishing touches to their superb campaigns in the last ten years, and they continue to fall under pressure. For India to win an ICC event, they must let go of the fear of losing. Can India win the ongoing WTC Final? Do let us know in the comments.