It would not be as iconic a parting shot as MS Dhoni’s six over midwicket on that famous night in Mumbai. But Ravindra Jadeja’s slap through square leg that wrapped up the Champions Trophy in Dubai, India’s first 50-over ICC title in 12 years, would long be remembered.
Emotions poured out—Jadeja plucked a stump and began shaking his legs, KL Rahul let out a shriek of joy and the euphoric teammates bounded out—as they surpassed the target of 252 with four wickets and six balls to spare, ending a long and frustrating wait for winning a global tournament in this format.
The end was frenetic, but there was little doubt that India would leave the city in tears. Even when they lost wickets in clusters—18 for three after the century-stand between Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma and later 20 for 2—there was never a fear that India would panic and crumble. When they lost Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit in a trice, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stitched 61 runs. When Shreyas and Axar departed, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya guided the ship, when Hardik exited, Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja calmly dragged them ashore.
