Hardik Pandya was the only Indian player to come out with some credit from the 2017 Champions Trophy final, which India lost by 180 runs against Pakistan. In the final against New Zealand on Sunday, Pandya played an important cameo after the game became tight. The all-rounder made run-a-ball 18, invaluable in the context of the game. His 38-run sixth wicket partnership with KL Rahul made the outcome a formality. “It’s always amazing to win an ICC event, especially the Champions Trophy. I remember 2017 very closely to my heart. We couldn’t finish the job that time,” the 31-year-old told the host broadcaster after embracing the moment of triumph. India won the T20 World Cup last year. But winning a 50-over global event was always going to be special. It somewhat put a balm on the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak. Also, a lot of players in this team had been carrying the scars of losing the final of an ICC tournament to Pakistan eight years ago. The team management’s decision to pick him as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman ahead of Rishabh Pant was questioned. But all along, Gautam Gambhir and Co. knew what they were doing.