India has been a team to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy, participating in every edition since the inaugural season in 1998. With two titles (2002 and 2013) and two runner-up finishes (2000 and 2017), India has had a brilliant history in the competition.
The 2002 Champions Trophy saw India share the title with Sri Lanka after the final was washed out twice. In 2013, under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, India lifted the trophy, defeating England in a rain-affected final. Shikhar Dhawan’s impressive performances earned him the Player of the Series award, while Ravindra Jadeja was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
However in 2017, after a dominating campaign, the side failed in the finals against arch-rivals Pakistan. Despite impressive runs in past editions, India also faced early exits in 2004, 2006, and 2009. Now, in 2025, India is on a search for its third title under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. They have started their campaign on a strong note, securing a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their opening match.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: What will happen if India lose the toss against Pakistan in Match 5?
Here are the five teams who have never defeated India in the Champions Trophy:
5. Zimbabwe (1 Match, 2002)
Zimbabwe has never beaten India in the ICC Champions Trophy, with their only match taking place in the 2002 edition. The clash was held in Colombo, and saw India post 288/6 in 50 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 111 from Mohammad Kaif. Virender Sehwag (48) and Rahul Dravid (71) provided strong contributions at the top.
In reply, Zimbabwe fought hard, with Andy Flower scoring a magnificent 145 off 164 balls. However, Zaheer Khan’s four-wicket haul and Sachin Tendulkar’s crucial two wickets ensured India secured a 14-run victory. Despite Flower’s heroics, Zimbabwe fell short at 274/8. This remains the only time the two teams have met in the tournament.
4. Kenya (2 Matches, 2000-2004)
Kenya is another team that has never managed to defeat India in this tournament, having faced them twice so far. Their first match-up was in the 2000 edition at Nairobi Gymkhana, where India comfortably won by 8 wickets. Four years later, in the 2004 Champions Trophy, India once again put up a great performance, securing a massive 98-run victory in Southampton.
Despite Kenya’s strong performances in cricket during the early 2000s, including their remarkable semi-final run in the 2003 World Cup, they struggled against the Men in Blue and suffered a 91-run loss. Meanwhile, Kenya’s current team hasn’t been able to qualify for an ICC event for over a decade.
3. Bangladesh (2 Matches, 2017-2025):
The third team on this list is Bangladesh. The two teams have faced each other twice in the tournament, with India coming out victorious on both occasions. In the 2017 semi-final, the Men in Blue registered a clinical nine-wicket win, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 123 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 96.
In their latest encounter in 2025, India chased down Bangladesh’s 229-run target with six wickets in hand, courtesy of Shubman Gill’s century and Mohammad Shami’s five-wicket haul. Towhid Hridoy’s heroic century helped Bangladesh recover from 35/5, but India’s experience helped them come back into the game. Bangladesh can face India once again in the 2025 edition only if the two teams manage to qualify for the finals.
2. England (3 Matches, 2002-2006-2013):
England is a surprising inclusion in this list that has never beaten India in the competition. Despite being a strong cricketing nation, the side has faced India three times in the tournament and lost on all occasions. Their first meeting in 2002 saw India secure an eight-wicket victory in Colombo. In 2006, India chased down England’s target to win by 4 wickets in Jaipur.
The most iconic clash came in the 2013 final at Birmingham. A rain-shortened 20-over game saw India post 129, with Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round brilliance and MS Dhoni’s captaincy guiding them to a narrow 5-run win. The two sides can take on each other either in the semi of the finals of the Champions Trophy 2025, only if they manage to qualify for that stage.
1. South Africa (4 Matches, 2000-2002-2013-2017):
South Africa is the team to have suffered the most number of defeats at the hands of India in the trophy’s history. The two teams have met four times in the tournament, with India registering wins on each occasion. The first encounter in 2000 saw India win by 95 runs in Nairobi. In 2002, South Africa came close but fell short by 10 runs in Colombo.
India then secured a 26-run win in Cardiff in 2013, followed by a dominating eight-wicket victory at The Oval in 2017. The Proteas who won the inaugural title are on a hunt for their second title. However, there are chances that they may face the Men in Blue in the 2025 edition in the knockout phase of the competition, only if the two manage to qualify.
