Best subcontinent XI of Champions Trophy 2017

Once England got knocked out in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, it was an all subcontinental affair. To be honest, this entire tournament was all about 4 teams, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and England. England entered as the favorites but succumbed in the semifinals to the eventual winners Pakistan. Other favorites in the tournament like South Africa, New Zealand and Australia had a forgettable campaign. South Africa had it on their hands to go ahead but defeats to Pakistan and India shattered their hopes, yet again. Australia and New Zealand played decent cricket, but rain spoiled their party and Bangladesh overtook them in dramatic style. Since this tournament was predominantly about the subcontinental countries, we compiled the best subcontinental XI of this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. Barring the match against India, there was nothing special coming from Sri Lankan players and henceforth, none of their players made it to this list. #1 Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan of India. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) ICC tournaments and Shikhar Dhawan, a love story that doesn’t seem to end sometime soon. Well, my views might seem exaggerated, but none can overlook what Dhawan has contributed to Indian cricket in the tournaments that matter the most. Dhawan’s “not so aggressive, not so circumspect” style of batting is actually best suited for One Day games, where he can bat with a strike rate around 85-95. The left-hander was spectacular during the entire course of the tournament and he ended up winning the Golden Bat. With 338 runs in 5 innings at an average of 67.60, he proved the world why he’s a big match outlet. #2 Fakhar Zaman Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) The man of the moment for Pakistan cricket, the man who had grabbed a central spot on the front page of every Pakistani newspaper and the man who played a pivotal role in his country’s sensational run this tournament, Fakhar Zaman makes it to this elite list surprising absolutely no one. Fakhar was not a part of the playing XI in Pakistan’s opening game, but he impressed in the very next game he played against South Africa, where he provided his side a solid start chasing down a below par target. A memorable hundred to go with two half-centuries, Fakhar compiled 252 runs at an average of 63. #3 Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma of India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) The “Hitman” of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma alongside his partner in crime Shikhar Dhawan started exactly where they left in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy. In 2013, MS Dhoni opted for a completely new opening pair for the Champions Trophy, sending in Rohit and Dhawan for the first time. This proved to be a masterstroke for Indian cricket as both Rohit and Dhawan have been terrific over the course of time. Rohit Sharma had a scintillating outing this time around, setting up two hundred run and one fifty-run stand with Dhawan. The right-hander amassed a staggering 304 runs in the tournament at an average of 76, which included a man of the match winning 123* against Bangladesh in the semifinals and a couple of half-centuries. #4 Virat Kohli India’s captain Virat Kohli. (Photo credit: IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) Speculations over his form vanished after a splendid display against the old enemies Pakistan in India’s opening match of the campaign against Pakistan, which India won comfortably. Virat Kohli’s record in 50-over ICC tournaments has been good, but fans expect a lot more from him. Nevertheless, he was good enough this tournament to make it to this elite group. Virat didn’t get enough time to spend in the crease as Dhawan and Rohit did the majority of the damage. Yet Kohli scored 258 runs this tournament at a jaw dropping average of 129, which included two half-centuries. #5 Sarfaraz Ahmed (Captain and wicket-keeper) Pakistan’s batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images) Sarfaraz Ahmed deserves to be the captain of this side more than anyone else as he managed to pull off what not many Pakistani captains could in the past. He joins an elite list, which includes the immortal Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi as the three captains who led Pakistan to an ICC event glory. If captaining India is not easy, the situation is no different with Pakistan. Sarfaraz played a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka, which was one the best knocks of the tournament. With 75 more runs to get and just 4 wickets in hand, Sarfaraz showed great temperament and took his side to an unforgettable victory. Though he scored just 76 runs in the tournament, his captaincy and wicket-keeping were spot on. #6 Mushfiqur Rahim Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim. (Photo credit: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) The little man from Bangladesh with a lion heart, Mushfiqur Rahim showed why Bangladeshi fans adore him so much. Mushfiqur has been a stalwart in Bangladesh’s monumental rise in International cricket over the last 5 years. They needed him to do well in the tournament and he did a fabulous job. The wicket-keeper batsman amassed 163 runs in 4 games which include 2 brilliant half-centuries against England in the group stages and India in the semifinals. Just when Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur were on course to set up a massive score against India, both of them lost their wickets in quick succession and eventually, that lost them the match. #7 Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya of India. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images) All those who’ve witnessed Pandya’s innings the other day against Pakistan would accept the fact he’s one talent to watch out for. Such belligerence under that pressure cooker situation was highly commendable and not just with the bat, he was impressive with the ball in the final(10 0vers, 1/53) as well as the whole tournament. Pandya got an opportunity to bat only 3 times and in those three occasions, he cleared the ropes 10 times. He piled up 105 runs in the tournament to go with 4 wickets at an economy tad less than 6. His contribution to the side has won the hearts of all Indian fans and he definitely has assured his place in the ODI for some more time. #8 Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh batsmen Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) The demigod of masses in Bangladesh, Shakib is arguably the best cricketer Bangladesh has produced. His ability to turn a match upside down with the bat and ball are simply outstanding and he did a great job for his side in the Champions Trophy. Shakib Al Hasan stitched an unforgettable partnership with Mahmudullah against New Zealand which helped them chase down a target of 266 completely out of the blue. He amassed 168 runs this tournament and though he had a forgettable campaign with the ball, he was decent in the middle overs. #9 Junaid Khan Junaid Khan of Pakistan. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) The spearhead who promised to pick up Kohli’s wicket before their opening game, Junaid Khan missed out Pakistan’s first match. But when he turned up again, he showed the world why many rate him so highly. He was terrific in the four games that he played, picking up wickets at regular intervals being very economical. Junaid finished as the third highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 8 scalps after his name at an economy of 4.58. #10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates the wicket of Mahmudullah of Bangladesh. (Photo by Harry Trump – IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a quintessential fast bowler whose main weapon of choice is his swing. Bhuvneshwar’s progress has been remarkable and inspirational for the kids watching him on television and it’s fair to say he’s the best in India right now. Bhuvneshwar was brilliant at the beginning, fabulous at the death and despite of bowling these pressure overs of the game, his economy was just 4.63, which is outstanding. The pacer finished as the 5th joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 7 wickets, sharing the honours with England’s Adil Rashid. #11 Hasan Ali Pakistan bowler Hasan Ali. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Pakistan’s best bowler this tournament, Hasan Ali was stellar in all the games, barring that one game against India where he got smashed to all parts. Post then, his spells in the middle overs against South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and India are the reason why the trophy flew to Lahore. Hasan Ali grabbed the Golden Ball award as he finished as the highest wicket taker in the tournament, with 13 wickets after his name. Though he was being trolled a bit for his peculiar style of celebration, this guy has been very highly impressive.

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