From MS Dhoni To Sourav Ganguly : List of Indian captains in Champions Trophy History

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to return in 2025, with the tournament beginning on February 19. Host nation Pakistan will face New Zealand in the opening match, which will take place in Karachi. The final is scheduled to be held on March 9.

As part of the hybrid model, India will play all of its matches in Dubai as the Men in Blue have refused to travel across the border.

Cricket fans have been eagerly waiting for the Champions Trophy to return, as the last edition was held in 2017 in England and Wales. In that tournament, Pakistan clinched the title, defeating India in the final. The Champions Trophy was first introduced in 1998 and was originally played every two years until 2009. After that, the tournament shifted to a four-year cycle. The 2021 edition was supposed to be hosted by India, but it was later replaced by the T20 World Cup, which eventually took place in the UAE.

Now, after an eight-year gap, the Champions Trophy is making its long-awaited return, promising an exciting contest among the world's top teams.

India have won the competition twice and will be eager to make it 3 titles under the leadership of Rohit Sharma this time. Here's a look at the list of Indian captains over the years in this very tournament.

Mohammad Azharuddin - 1998 (Bangladesh) - Semi-finals

India participated in the first-ever ICC Champions Trophy, then known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, with Mohammad Azharuddin as captain. The team had a strong start, defeating Australia in the quarter-finals, thanks to Sachin Tendulkar's all-round performance, where he scored 141 runs and took four wickets. However, in the semi-finals, India fell short against the West Indies while chasing a target of 242, bringing an end to their campaign.

Sourav Ganguly - 2000 (Kenya) - Runners-up

Under Sourav Ganguly's leadership, India had an impressive tournament. They defeated Kenya in the quarter-finals and stunned South Africa in the semi-finals, with Ganguly scoring a brilliant 141*. In the final against New Zealand, Ganguly led from the front with another century, scoring 117. However, Chris Cairns' match-winning knock of 102* denied India the title, as they finished as runners-up.

Sourav Ganguly - 2002 (Sri Lanka) - Joint Winners

India delivered a dominant performance in the 2002 edition, winning against Zimbabwe and England to secure a place in the final. Virender Sehwag was the standout performer with both bat and ball. India faced Sri Lanka in the final, but the match was washed out twice due to rain. As a result, the trophy was shared between India and Sri Lanka, marking India's first ICC Champions Trophy title.

Sourav Ganguly - 2004 (England) - Group Stage Exit

The Men in Blue had a disappointing outing in the 2004 edition, failing to progress beyond the group stage. They lost their opening match to Pakistan but managed to defeat Kenya in their second game. However, due to an inferior net run rate, they could not advance to the semi-finals.

Rahul Dravid - 2006 (India) - Group Stage Exit

As hosts of the tournament, India had high expectations under Rahul Dravid's captaincy. Unfortunately, they had a poor campaign, losing crucial matches against Australia and West Indies, which led to an early exit. The batting lineup, including key players like Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni, struggled to make an impact.

MS Dhoni - 2009 (South Africa) - Group Stage Exit

India, led by MS Dhoni, once again faced an early elimination from the tournament. They lost their first match to Pakistan, and their game against Australia was washed out due to rain. Despite winning against West Indies, it was not enough for them to qualify for the semi-finals. Injuries and an underwhelming bowling attack contributed to their poor performance.

MS Dhoni - 2013 (England) - Champions

India had a fantastic campaign in 2013, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. They secured victories against South Africa, West Indies, and Pakistan in the group stage before defeating Sri Lanka comfortably in the semi-final. The final against England was a rain-affected match, reduced to 20 overs per side. India posted a modest total of 129 but defended it brilliantly, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma playing key roles. This triumph made MS Dhoni the first and only captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies-the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy.

Virat Kohli - 2017 (England & Wales) - Runners-up

India, under Virat Kohli's captaincy, had a strong campaign and topped their group by defeating Pakistan and South Africa. In the semi-final, they secured a convincing win over Bangladesh. However, in the final, Pakistan stunned India with a dominant 180-run victory. Fakhar Zaman's century and Mohammad Amir's lethal bowling spell, which dismissed key players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma early, led to India's downfall.