2. Chris Cairns 2000

The Kiwi all-rounder Chris Cairns still resides as the brute in the hearts of many Indian cricket fans. Kenya hosted the 2nd edition of ICC Champions Trophy in 2000. The final match was played at Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi where New Zealand’s skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss and decided to have a bowl first. Batting first, the Indian team led by Sourav Ganguly scored as many as 264 runs with the help of Ganguly’s innings of 117 runs from 130 balls.

Ganguly was well supported by the master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar who scored 69 runs in 83 deliveries. Sachin smashed ten boundaries and only one six in his innings. But after the solid start, none of the India batsmen could capitalize. After a first-wicket partnership of 141 runs, India lost the momentum somewhat as the middle order collapsed.

The middle-order comprises of big names like Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Vinod Kambli and Robin Singh, who failed miserable in the final. Cairns was the most economical bowler of the Black Caps, conceding just 40 runs in 10 overs. India had a good start with the bowl as Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble took some early wickets.

New Zealand was struggling at 132 for 5 in the 24th over but once again, Cairns was the guardian. He played through the 2nd innings and scored 102 runs from 113 balls. His innings comprised of 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. It was a nail-biting match and New Zealand chased the target with two balls to spare in a match that went down to the wire and will be remembered for a long time.

3. Ian Bradshaw 2004

West Indies were playing the Champions Trophy finals for the second time and they were raring to register a victory this time against England. The final was being played at The Oval, London. Winning the toss, Brain Charles Lara decided to field first. England batting collapsed big-time as they were bowled out for just 217.

English opener Marcus Trescothick was the only successful English batsman. He scored 104 runs from 124 balls with the help of 14 boundaries, but rest of his team-mates failed inadequately. Wavell Hinds was the most successful bowler for the Windies and Ian Bradshaw was the second one as he bagged 2 wickets in 10 overs and gave away 52 runs.

218 was a pretty below part target to defend but England’s bowlers bowled cleverly. Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff tried their level best to make it difficult for the Windies batsmen. At one stage, West Indies were down to 147-8 and the game was looking in England’s favor. But Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Brawne had different plans. They put a brilliant 61-run ninth wicket partnership as West Indies chased the target with seven balls to spare. Bradshaw played an inning of 34 runs from 51 balls with the help of 5 boundaries, as Vaughan & Co. suffered defeat in front of their home crowd. His inning was instrumental in West Indies’ debut ICC Champions Trophy triumph.

4. Shane Watson 2006 and 2009

India was hosting the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time in 2006 and the final match was played at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. West Indies were the defending champions but the Australian side led by Ricky Ponting was definitely the team to beat. West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss.

But Aussie pacers Nathan Bracken and Glenn McGrath made it difficult for the Windies batsmen and later they were joined by Sane Watson. He bowled 3 overs and gave away only 11 runs and took the wickets of Marlon Samuels and Carlton Baugh. West Indies were bowled out for a diminishing score of 138 and the crowd felt match was heading towards a one-sided affair.

Coming to bat, Australia lost Adam Gilchrist scored just 2 runs and skipper Ricky Ponting for a duck. But that was the last success for the Windies’ bowlers. Shane Watson and Damien Martyn anchored their innings well. Australia won the match with nearly 22 overs to spare and Shane Watson played an innings of 57 runs in 88 balls.

In 2009, Australians reached the ICC Champions Trophy finals for the 2nd consecutive and was looking positive to defend their title. They faced their arch-rivals New Zealand in the final. Both the teams had won the at least once, so it was clear that one team will win it for the second time. South Africa was hosting the tournament that year and final was scheduled to take place at SuperSport Park, Centurion. New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat first.

Once again, batting first in the CT final proved costly as the Black Caps were all out for 200 runs. Martin Guptill was the pick of the batsmen for New Zealand and scored 40 runs, but the rest failed. Brett Lee and Nathan Hauritz were the most successful bowlers for the Aussies.

201 was a pretty difficult total to defend in Centurion. But history repeated itself as the captain and wicket-keeper were dismissed cheaply again. Tim Paine was the wicket-keeper this time, while the skipper was same. Both Paine and Ponting went back to the pavilion after scoring a run each and Australia was struggling at 6/2. Once again, the stage was set for Shane Watson. He along with Cameron White, who scored 62 runs, while Watson scored a beautiful century. He was the hero in Australia’s title defense.

5. Ravindra Jadeja 2013

India was playing a final ICC Champions Trophy final for the third time. They had won it once, but the trophy was equally shared with Sri Lanka. England was hosting the tournament for the second time and this time, the venue for the final was Edgbaston, Birmingham. It was a rain affected game and number of overs were reduced to 20.

England under the leadership of Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to field. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan continued his phenomenal form in the final but after his dismissal, India lost the tempo. Within 16 runs, they lost four quick wickets including Suresh Raina and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. But Ravindra Jadeja finished off the innings well. Dhawan’s 33 from 25 balls was very crucial as India was able to post a total of 129. Jadeja’s 2 boundaries and 2 sixes were much invaluable to the Indian team.

Though England lost their skipper Alastair Cook early, but they were slowly moving towards their target. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were the pick of the bowlers for India. Jadeja dismissed English batsmen Ian Bell and Jos Buttler, while Ashwin made Joe Root and Jonathan Trott his bunny. England needed 28 runs from 18 balls, and skipper MS Dhoni decide to go with the expensive Ishant Sharma to bowl again.

Ishant gave 8 runs in the first 3 balls, and pressure now completely was in the Indian camp. With 20 needed from 15, it seemed like a walk in the park for England. But Ishant struck twice in two balls to dismiss Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara. teh matched completely turned in India’s favor as England needed 15 off the last over. With Ashwin bowling, they would have never got there.

MS Dhoni won his first ICC Champions Trophy. Due to superb all-round performance, Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged as Man of the Match.

Note:- The 2002 Champions wasn't considered as the final was washed-out by rain