Introduction
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 has been the most spectacular cricketing event ever to be witnessed by fans around the world.
Colloquially, this tournament is known as the “Mini World Cup” because it brings together the world’s greatest cricketing nations for the ultimate showdown.
With mind-blowing performances, exciting matches, and unexpected champions, this tournament indeed was a thriller.
The best players and matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be focused on in order to take us on a journey of the most unforgettable moments of the tournament.
What is the ICC Champions Trophy 2017?
The 8th ICC Champions Trophy was held between June 1 and June 18, 2017, in England and Wales. This tournament saw eight of the best cricketing nations participating in it, namely India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, and England.
It was a different competition from the World Cup, which was held every four years, and a tournament played among the top eight teams in the ICC rankings.
This ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was going to be the last ever edition of the event, and it indeed finished with a bang, with fabulous cricket and a few of the best moments cricket has seen recently. Let us look at the best players and the standout matches that defined the tournament.
Best Players of ICC Champions Trophy 2017
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 is the platform where world-class cricketers visit to prove their skills. The competition saw batsmen outclassing the rest of the group with both batting and bowling. Here, also the fielders didn’t fail to produce brilliant results to help their team win. Let’s see who performed in this matchless tournament.
Shikhar Dhawan (India)
Shikhar Dhawan was India’s key man in the whole campaign of ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He is always known for aggressive batting at number one.
The highest run scorer for India during the tournament was Dhawan, who had very consistent performances.
He played his part in making India reach the final by his brilliant knock against Pakistan in the group stages and scoring 68 runs.
Dhawan’s stylish stroke play, especially his timing and the command of his shots, found gaps into the field. He was perhaps the player who did it best in this tournament and helped India stay dominant in their campaign.
Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, is one of the most prolific players in world cricket. His performances in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 showed why he was rated as one of the best.
Kohli anchored innings and accelerated when needed for India to achieve success. Kohli’s 96-run knock against Bangladesh in the semi-final helped India to reach the final.
Kohli’s elegant stroke play and consistency under pressure was seen throughout the tournament.
Although the team lost in the final, his leadership and batting skills reflected his capability and determination.
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
The star bowler for ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was Mohammad Amir, whose brilliance in the final led Pakistan to their first-ever Champions Trophy.
Amir has the ability to swing the ball both ways along with his pace, which made him a highly dangerous threat to any opposition.
His 3-wicket haul in the final against India made it possible to seal the Indian batting lineup and turn the game for Pakistan.
Amir’s outstanding performance in the final and his ability to break key partnerships made him one of the standout players of the tournament.
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
Fakhar Zaman is one of the unexpected heroes for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. His match-winning hundred in the final against India allowed Pakistan to amass a gigantic total, which eventually won the game by a margin of 180 runs.
His composure at the crease along with attacking stroke play made him the star performer for the final.
He also turned out to be the main cause of Pakistan’s victory in this tournament as he assisted his side to create a good base for themselves in almost all the matches, besides.
Batting by Zaman in the final is going to be one of the most nerve-wracking performances in Champions Trophy history.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Ravindra Jadeja was very crucial as an all-rounder in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. His bowling helped India significantly as he came at a very tight economy rate, and it always helped the side pick wickets at crucial stages.
His contribution with the bat in the middle order also kept India stabilized at many situations of trouble.
His excellent fielding, which included sharp stops and accurate throws, made him a valuable asset for India throughout the tournament. Jadeja’s all-round efforts in the tournament were indispensable for the team.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Top Matches
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 surely delivered some nail-biting matches, truly leaving the fans on tenterhooks.
From the exciting group-stage matches to the final that is etched in everyone’s memory, every match had its own special moment. Here are some of the top matches that defined the tournament.
India vs Pakistan (Group Stage)
The India vs Pakistan match in the group stage was the most anticipated game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Despite India being the overwhelming favorites, Pakistan produced an outstanding all-round performance.
Mohammad Amir’s brilliant bowling and Fakhar Zaman’s half-century helped Pakistan win by 180 runs, marking a massive upset.
This match remains one of the most memorable of the tournament, as it set the stage for Pakistan’s surprise run to the final.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Group Stage)
It was the match against Sri Lanka that defined the group stage for Pakistan. Pakistan had to win the match if they wanted to remain in the tournament, and they played far better than their opponents.
The bowlers strangled Sri Lanka to a pathetic total, which Pakistan chased down easily and thus qualified for the semi-finals while carrying on with their dream run to the title match.
India vs South Africa (Group Stage)
India played another important group stage match against South Africa. It was a significant match for both teams to emerge at the top of the table and qualify directly for the semis.
This match was another victory for India, with all-round team efforts. Shikhar Dhawan’s runs, along with impressive contributions from Virat Kohli and the bowling unit, were enough for India to win this match and get a direct qualification for the semi-finals.
Pakistan v/s England (Semi Final)
Pakistan’s semi-final clash against England was a thrilling match. England, one of the tournament favorites, faced a surprise defeat as Pakistan dominated with both bat and ball.
The Pakistani bowlers, led by Mohammad Amir, kept the pressure on England throughout, restricting them to a low total.
Fakhar Zaman’s steady 57 runs was enough to guide Pakistan to the final, making it one of the most remarkable upsets of the tournament.
India vs Bangladesh (Semi-Final)
In the second semi-final, India faced Bangladesh. Bangladesh had been impressive throughout the tournament, but they found it difficult to cope with India’s power. India comfortably defeated Bangladesh, with Virat Kohli’s knock of 96 runs setting the tone for India’s comprehensive victory. The victory ensured India’s spot in the final, but their performance in the final would fall short of expectations.
The Final: Pakistan vs India
One of the most eagerly awaited cricketing matches was going to be the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 between India and Pakistan.
Having reached the final, India was dominant in their cruise through the tournament, but quite obviously favorites to win, but Pakistan put together a superb match to take the title with 180 runs.
Pakistan put up a very trying score of 338/4 with Fakhar Zaman putting in a great hundred. Their top order only started crumbling though, and bowlers for Pakistan, starting from Mohammad Amir, capitalized on it.
Virat Kohli once again had an attempt but his team didn’t recover in this match as well, and thus a fairytale story in winning the Champions Trophy for their team was for this young Pakistan.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Legacy
The last edition of this tournament was ICC Champions Trophy 2017, and though this one is history, its legacy lives on.
Any cricketing world cup ever will witness the least expected results in the world, and Pakistan has marked this win.
The tournament showed how new faces shouldered their duties, how the forecasted unexpected results took place, and the nail-biting finishes that will be etched in history forever.
Conclusion
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was a great tournament that had moments never to be forgotten, amazing performances, and remarkable upsets.
Some of the best highlights of the tournament were surely the performances of Mohammad Amir, Fakhar Zaman, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli.
The memories of that final will always be cherished as a testament to Pakistan’s grit and resilience.
From thrilling matches to legendary individual performances, the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will always remain a classic in the history of cricket.
As the tournament marked the end of its era, it gave fans unforgettable memories and brought joy to cricket lovers around the world.
