The 2025 Champions Trophy will mark Rohit Sharma’s third appearance in the tournament but his first as India’s captain. If India clinches the title, they will surpass Australia to become the most successful team in Champions Trophy history.
For Rohit, however, the tournament presents a personal milestone—achieving what even MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly couldn’t: winning the title on his first attempt as captain.
Rohit follows in the footsteps of Mohammed Azharuddin (1998), Sourav Ganguly (2000, 2002, 2004), Rahul Dravid (2006), MS Dhoni (2009, 2013), and Virat Kohli (2017) as India’s sixth Champions Trophy captain.
India’s past victories include a shared title with Sri Lanka in 2002 due to a washed-out final and a triumphant 2013 campaign under Dhoni. Notably, both Ganguly and Dhoni secured their trophies in their second appearances as captain—something Rohit aims to do on his first attempt.
For the 37-year-old, a title win would be a much-needed redemption after a challenging period as both a captain and batter following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory.
Ganguly’s first Champions Trophy as captain came in 2000 when the tournament was still known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy. He led India to the final, even scoring 117 in the decider, but his side fell short against New Zealand after Chris Cairns’ match-winning century.
Dhoni, on the other hand, endured a disappointing first attempt in 2009 as India exited in the group stage, suffering a 54-run defeat to Pakistan. Despite a fighting 76 from Rahul Dravid, India fell short in a chase of 303.
Unlike Ganguly and Dhoni, who got second chances at Champions Trophy glory, Rohit might not have the luxury of a do-over. The tournament’s future remains uncertain, having seen only two editions between 2010 and 2020 after a flurry of five events from 2000 to 2009.
The 2017 edition was expected to be the last, and there’s no guarantee it will continue beyond 2025.
India’s recent performances have been inconsistent. A string of Test failures cost them a spot in the WTC final, and they suffered their first ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka since 1997.
However, their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign was a masterclass in dominance. If they can cap off this cycle with another ICC trophy, it would elevate Rohit to a position that even his legendary predecessors couldn’t reach on their first try.