Don’t tell India’s cricketers that the Champions Trophy is the runt of the litter. The competition has a checkered history in the ICC family tree, but represents the Men in Blue’s most recent global 50-over success back in 2013. Rohit Sharma’s side will aim for a third title when they face New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

After India beat Australia by four wickets in the semifinal, tickets to the showpiece sold out at the 25,000 capacity Emirates venue within 40 minutes. Tickets in the Sky Box hospitality seats were going for over $3,200 while others are being resold at a huge premium. Although Pakistan remain the official hosts of the tournament, a hybrid model was created to accommodate the Indians who refuse to play there for geopolitical and security reasons. Dubai has become a home from home for Gautam Gambhir’s squad.

India ended its curse of carrying out ICC bridesmaid duties with a dramatic victory in the T20 World Cup against South Africa in Barbados last June. They kept calm at the death when the odds were stacked against them. It lifted the dark blanket of failure that the 2023 World Cup final loss to the Baggy Greens brought over the cricket-mad country.

Despite murmurs about the future of ODI cricket, India’s form during 2023 in the 50-over format was supreme with 27 wins out of 35. However, no one remembers tidy statistics or the amount of points they are currently ahead at the top of the ICC ODI men’s rankings. Silverware is the currency in elite sport.

Eoin Morgan’s brilliant white-ball England team were constantly questioned about delivering something big before they finally struck gold at Lord’s in 2019 against the Kiwis.

After meekly exiting the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit changed the script at the top of the order for the longer white-ball format. He supercharged the approach and emboldened the players in the same way that Morgan shook up the whole attitude of England’s risk-averse approach. Giving an analogue team a digital bandwidth was crucial in the modern age of taking bowlers down.

“I want to win games, I want to win championships. That is what you play for,” Rohit proclaimed during the pre-match press conference before the loss to Australia in the World Test Championship at the Oval. It didn’t come. India look more comfortable now under pressure after defeating their demons. “You’re so desperate for certain things in life and I was very desperate for this in my life. So happy that we eventually crossed the line this time,” said the Indian skipper in the aftermath of that incredible finish at the Kensington Oval 12 months later.

The winners circle is small and Indian cricket hasn’t been in it enough for the talent pool that they have produced since the 2011 World Cup win. The hurt that resides over losing two Test Championship finals in 2021 and 2023 can be parked a little more easily given the WTC doesn’t have the heft of a truly meaningful mace just yet. Don’t expect Ben Stokes to promote it either.

The heroes of the team are now in their dotage so the time to strike again is here and now. Rohit’s reflexes are not as sharp and his cameos at the top are getting shorter after a traumatic time in the red-ball game. Virat Kohli remains the king of the chase despite fading Test form. Both men retired with winners’ medals from the international T20 scene, but have no desire to exit stage left in ODIs just yet.

New Zealand are the bogey side that can spoil the party. They do all the basics right. They are as relaxed and united as a competitive team can be. Whichever pitch is picked for the final, the Dubai factor is bigger than the dew factor. India feel comfortable in the Emirates and don’t carry the weight of an expectant 100,000 in Ahmedabad.

The trophy is there for India if they play without the ghosts of past failures. New Zealand stood up to them last Sunday but fell backwards when the crunch came. Australia asked questions and should have set 300, but the favorites kept the match blinkers on. Game management is their go to policy now.

If they land their lengths with that spinning quintet and hit their straps with the bat, then the white-ball cabinet will have another much-needed exhibit. India won’t see the Champions Trophy as the Holy Grail, but it’s the next best thing to win.