India is gearing up to take on New Zealand in the much-awaited final of the Champions Trophy. However, this match brings along an unusual concern—the team’s tricky history with finals played on Sundays. Superstitious fans will be hopeful that the team can break their unfortunate trend, as India has lost nearly all its ICC tournament finals held on a Sunday, with the latest challenge set for March 9, which again falls on a Sunday.
Looking back at the history, India’s journey in Sunday finals has not been a happy one. Their first Sunday final was in 2000 against New Zealand, then known as the ICC Knockout, and it has largely been a tale of heartache since then, culminating in their loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
There is a silver lining, though. India’s sole victory in an ICC tournament final on a Sunday came in 2013 when they faced England in the Champions Trophy. Interestingly, even that win had a bit of drama—it started on June 23 but was interrupted by rain, which pushed the conclusion to June 24, meaning the notorious Sunday trend remains largely intact.
India’s History in ICC Tournament Finals on Sundays
Wins:
- 1983 ODI World Cup Final – Saturday
- 2002 Champions Trophy Final – Monday
- 2007 T20 World Cup Final – Monday
- 2011 ODI World Cup Final – Saturday
- 2013 Champions Trophy Final – Sunday/Monday
Losses:
- 2024 T20 World Cup Final – Saturday
- 2014 T20 World Cup Final – Sunday
- 2003 ODI World Cup Final – Sunday
- 2000 Champions Trophy Final – Sunday
- 2017 Champions Trophy Final – Sunday
Captain Rohit Sharma has already made history by leading India to the finals of all four ICC white-ball events. A win against New Zealand would also elevate him as the second-most successful Indian captain in limited-overs cricket.
However, to break this Sunday jinx and claim the title, Rohit and his team will need to overcome a tough opponent in New Zealand, particularly their captain Mitchell Santner. After a stellar performance in the semi-finals against South Africa, Santner is brimming with confidence and will be eager to guide his team to victory on such a significant stage.
