Ashwin Reflects on Dhoni's Tactical Genius in 2013 CT Victory

New Delhi, Feb 14 (NationPress) Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on MS Dhoni's exceptional tactical acumen during the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England, expressing his astonishment at Dhoni's suggestion to dismiss Jonathan Trott.

India faced the host nation England in the final at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where rain interruptions limited the match to a 20-over contest. Through Dhoni’s leadership, India successfully defended their score of 129 runs.

During a special episode of JioHotstar's Unbeaten: Dhoni's Dynamites, Ashwin shared the story behind Trott's dismissal, highlighting Dhoni's game awareness and strategic insights. “I still remember Mahi bhai came up to me and said, ‘Don’t bowl over the stumps to Trott; bowl from around the wicket. He’ll try to play on the leg side, and if the ball spins, he’ll get stumped.’ I still can’t believe how he predicted that,” Ashwin remarked.

India's unbeaten journey throughout the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2013 and their victory against England in the final created another memorable chapter in their illustrious cricketing history.

Dinesh Karthik, the former India wicket-keeper and a pivotal squad member, reminisced about the team's resilience and Dhoni’s capacity to make critical decisions under pressure. “This was our chance to show what cricket meant to Team India. We were resilient, we fought back, and we had the mindset to never give up. England were cruising; they were almost there and could have easily crossed the line. But Dhoni made some brilliant tactical moves, and the bowlers backed him up,” Karthik noted.

Akash Chopra, former India batter and commentator, emphasized that the 2013 Champions Trophy was a testament to Dhoni’s leadership. “This was his tournament through and through. It had Dhoni written all over it. He had almost crafted this team in his own image and engineered victory after victory... That was a story written by the heavens,” he stated.

A key moment arose when Dhoni reintroduced Ishant Sharma into the attack despite a lackluster first spell. Following Dhoni’s advice to alter his pace with slower deliveries, Sharma claimed back-to-back wickets of Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara in the 17th over, shifting the game in India’s favor.

Chopra hailed it as one of Sharma’s most outstanding performances, extolling Dhoni's instinct for maximizing his players’ potential. “That turned out to be the most magical thing Ishant has done in his life. He changed up the pace and took two crucial wickets back-to-back. That’s when you realize Dhoni has the Midas touch - whatever he touches turns to gold,” Chopra praised.

In a bold decision during the final over, Dhoni entrusted Ashwin, a spinner, to bowl the last six deliveries. This surprising choice proved effective as Ashwin maintained his composure, securing a narrow five-run win. Chopra articulated why this decision was successful, noting Dhoni’s unwavering faith in Ashwin’s capabilities. “Throwing the ball to a spinner in the 20th over is a huge gamble. But Dhoni had complete confidence in Ashwin - not just in his skills, but in his mindset and ability to handle pressure,” Chopra explained.

Suresh Raina, former India all-rounder and a vital squad member, discussed the significance of India’s undefeated streak, contrasting it with their 2011 World Cup experience, where they faced four losses. “We lost four matches in the 2011 World Cup, and it was a tough experience. But a win like this defines your career. We worked so hard, and the entire Indian team earned this honour,” Raina remarked.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, is set to commence their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.