When Team India played the Champions Trophy final twice in two days, a rare event in the tournament's history

The Champions Trophy 2002 is often remembered for the thrilling contest and the unexpected events that followed. India reached the final of the tournament along with Sri Lanka. However, the final match had to be postponed due to continuous rain, leading to an unusual situation where the final was played twice in two consecutive days.

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Before the Champions Trophy 2025 gets underway from February 19, let's give you a quick recap of the unusual 2002 edition's final.

The final was held at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo. However, heavy rain forced the match to be abandoned on the first day. In an unprecedented move, the ICC decided to reschedule the final, making it the first time in the history of the tournament that the final had to be played twice in back-to-back days. The weather continued to play a role, and on the second day, the match was finally played between India and Sri Lanka, but it wasn't a conventional final.

How the 2002 Champions Trophy final unfolded?

The 2002 Champions Trophy, initially planned for India, was moved to Sri Lanka. After impressive semi-final victories over South Africa and Australia, India and Sri Lanka faced off in the final, which was anticipated to be a thrilling contest. However, rain intervened, disrupting the match.  Despite 110.4 overs of cricket being played, the ICC's rules at the time necessitated a shared title, preventing a decisive result.  This outcome, despite the extensive play, remains a point of discussion.

The tournament also saw a change in format from the knockout system used in previous editions in Bangladesh and Kenya.  Instead of a straight knockout structure, the 2002 Champions Trophy adopted a league phase, adding a different dimension to the competition.