Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan: Following disappointing Champions Trophy performances in 2004, 2006, and 2009, India approached the 2013 edition with guarded hope. Among the most important issues that lay ahead of the tournament was the promotion of Rohit Sharma as a permanent white-ball opener. By his side was Shikhar Dhawan, returning after being dropped in 2011. This move would turn out to be a masterstroke, as the combination went on to become India’s second-most successful opening combination in ODIs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
The Perfect Left-Right Combination
India’s first match against South Africa at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, witnessed Rohit and Dhawan’s first appearance as an opening combination.
Although they began slowly, they later dominated the South African bowling attack. Their 127-run partnership established the tone for India’s campaign, with Rohit scoring 65 and Dhawan blasting a mind-boggling 114 off 94 balls. The fiery yet calm demeanor of both the batters offered a solid foundation for India, allowing them to achieve a significant total of 331/7.
India’s All-Round Performance Secures Victory
Though South Africa possessed the firepower to pursue the target, initial breaks by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav made them uneasy. Ravindra Jadeja’s fielding brilliance repelled the brisk 124-run partnership between Robin Peterson and AB de Villiers, turning the match in India’s favor. His timely throw to run out Peterson swung the fortunes in their direction, which resulted in frequent wickets during the middle overs.
While Ryan McLaren battled on with a courageous 71*, South Africa still came up short, being bowled out for 305. India won by 26 runs, the start of an unbeaten sequence which ended in MS Dhoni hoisting the Champions Trophy.
A Partnership for the Ages
This tournament saw the emergence of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma as one of the best opening pairs in world cricket. Their shot selection, understanding, and ability to complement one another made them a bowler’s nightmare. The two added 5,148 runs in ODIs with 18 century partnerships and were instrumental in India’s white-ball success during these years.
The 2013 Champions Trophy not only put an end to India’s championship drought in the competition but also saw the birth of a mythical partnership that dominated an era of Indian cricket.
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