The curtain has risen on the Champions Trophy amidst various speculations. Rohit Sharma’s India lifted the title for the first time since 2013. There was no shortage of standout performances throughout the tournament. However, to be honest, the players from the Champions India team have drawn the most attention. Along with them, the New Zealand cricketers were also exceptional. This is why the Champions Trophy XI, formed by Cricreads 11, features a majority of players from these two teams. Of course, there are some uncertainties in several positions. Nevertheless, the best XI of the Champions Trophy has been selected based on their impact.
Openers – Rohit Sharma and Rachin Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
The best player of the tournament cannot be left out of the Champions Trophy XI. That is why Rachin Ravindra is the first choice as an opener. He scored 263 runs with the bat, including two centuries. But that’s not all—he also took a crucial wicket in the final stage, finishing the tournament with three wickets. However, despite his brilliant performance, Rachin had to leave the field as a disappointed runner-up.
Rohit Sharma (India)
There may be questions about Rohit Sharma’s runs, but no one can match his impact. Ben Duckett may have scored more, and Ibrahim Zadran also made a strong impact. However, Rohit’s explosive batting played a crucial role in India’s victory, making him an undeniable pick for the XI.He did not win a single toss in the entire Champions Trophy. Yet, he led the team to victory without losing a single match. That is why he is the captain of the Champions Trophy XI. Moreover, his 76-run knock in the final made all the difference.
Middle Order – Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel
Virat Kohli (India)
It is difficult to find a better player at the number three position than Virat Kohli. His bat has shone in all the important matches. He scored 218 runs for India, including a fifty and a brilliant century. That is why he takes the number three spot in this XI.
Shreyas Iyer (India)
Shreyas Iyer was India’s highest run-scorer in the tournament with 243 runs. But his contribution cannot be judged by runs alone. He became a pillar of strength for India’s batting in the Champions Trophy. Whenever the team was in trouble, he steadied the innings. Though he didn’t score a century, his two crucial fifties and his 48-run knock in the final helped India stay in the match.
Axar Patel (India)
At number five, Axar Patel gets the spot purely based on impact. He played a key role in breaking opposition partnerships and contributed significantly with the bat. As an all-rounder, he performed exceptionally well. He scored 109 runs and took five wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 4.35.
All-rounders – Phillips, Omarzai, Santner
Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
How can you leave out Glenn Phillips? He did everything—batting, bowling, and fielding. He scored 177 runs and, though he took only two wickets, he was very economical. Most of New Zealand’s matches were played on batting-friendly pitches in Pakistan, and Phillips is only a part-time bowler.
However, his fielding was the highlight. The three catches he took will be remembered for years. His catch of Shubman Gill in the final turned the match. In total, Phillips took five catches and saved many runs on the field.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
Apart from India and New Zealand, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai also earns a place in the best XI. As long as Afghanistan was in the tournament, he contributed with both bat and ball. Some may argue for Hardik Pandya, but Omarzai had a bigger impact.
He scored 126 runs for Afghanistan and also took seven wickets. His crucial wicket against England played a big role in Afghanistan’s historic win. In that match, his quick 41 off 31 balls kept Afghanistan’s semi-final hopes alive.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand)
The losing captain also finds a place in the best XI, and rightfully so. He led his team to the final with impressive performances. Santner took nine wickets at an economy of just 4.80. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand and the second-highest in the tournament.
Bowlers – Varun Chakraborty, Matt Henry, Mohammed Shami
Varun Chakraborty (India)
Varun Chakraborty was a last-minute addition to India’s Champions Trophy squad. But even at the last moment, he made a big impact. He took nine wickets, just like Santner, but played one match less. Whenever India needed a breakthrough, he delivered. He also took a five-wicket haul in this year’s Champions Trophy.
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
New Zealand missed Matt Henry the most in the final. He was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker before getting injured, taking ten wickets. His contribution was crucial in New Zealand’s journey to the final.
Mohammed Shami (India)
Like Varun and Santner, Mohammed Shami also took nine wickets. He was the only Indian pacer to play in every match up to the final. This veteran bowler started with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh. It is almost impossible to form any best XI without him.
