CT 2017, Final, Pakistan v India: CT Player of the Match - Mohammad Amir

Call it surprising, call it shocking, but in the all-important final, Pakistan were where Team India were expected to be, while India were the team Pakistan wanted them to be. Despite all predictions, the defending champions seemed panic-struck and were eventually blown away. The Champions Trophy deservedly goes to Sarfraz Ahmed’s boys who brought everything to the table when it mattered the most.

Speaking of performing when it matters most, Mohammad Amir bowled with an invigorated spirit. While there was a cloud of doubt hovering over his head before the final, Amir proved to be Pakistan’s most destructive bowler against a rock-solid Indian batting line-up. Despite being the team’s most feared bowler, Amir played in the shadow of Hasan Ali, who lapped up the appreciation from the cricketing community for his zingy spells.

The expectations from the final were no different – many looked forward to a Hasan Ali once again creating a bottleneck in the middle overs. Mohammad Amir clearly had enough of being the beta bowler. He took matters into his own hands against a team for which he’s taken a liking.

Mohammad Amir knocks out India’s top three

That The Oval had a batting paradise on offer, Pakistan’s 338 was still going to take some defending, the reason being they were up against the best chasers in ODIs of late. It was all about the top three in the Indian batting line-up – the defending champs relied upon Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit, Shikhar and Virat. So what does Amir do? He authoritatively removes all of them from the equation.

The venue and the format were perhaps the only differences, but Mohammad Amir ran in with the same sting as he did in the Asia Cup against India. His spell began with an uncanny resemblance with that contest a year ago, as he caught Rohit in front of the stumps. India

India were jolted in the very first over when Virat the Redeemer walked out to the middle. While a nation hoped their captain would take control of the chase, Amir’s second over sent a pang of fear across all Indian fans. The skipper almost perished after having lasted a mere ten minutes at the crease. Azhar Ali’s dropped chance in the slips might have proved costly for Pakistan. Perhaps there was one lifeline on offer to the star batsmen of either team – in the first innings, it was Fakhar Zaman. Would Kohli live to tell the tale?

Virat perishes to Amir

Of course not. He edged one more to backward point off the very next ball. Un. Believable. Dread, anxiety and terror gripped the Indian dressing room as they saw their captain headed back towards them. Meanwhile, Amir was on cloud nine, or ten, or whatever number he fancies. Kohli was gone, and for all India knew, so was the match. As for Amir, whose career that had redemption as its crux, was on course to redeem his nation’s cricketing spirits. And when better to show up than the final of the ICC Champions Trophy?

Utopia. That’s where Pakistan were when the last of the big three made the long walk back. Shikhar Dhawan’s threat was also nullified by Amir. The left-hander chased a wide-ish ball outside off, got an outside edge, which was safely pouched by the captain Sarfraz. It was pretty much game, set and match at 33/3 as far as Pakistan were concerned.

Rise and shine, Mohammad Amir

Amir’s day at the office ended there. The rest of the job was done by Hasan Ali and youngster Shadab Khan. He finished with figures of 3/16 off his six overs, maintaining a miserly economy rate of 2.66 against the most free-scoring batsmen in the Champions Trophy. He rose and shone as though he was just knighted during the innings break.

Fakhar Zaman’s hundred might have been just another hundred in ODI cricket if India’s top order had teed off early on. Arguably the best batting line-up in the tournament were up against the most vicious pace attack, but the latter prevailed, and how.

Unpredictable brilliance was the theme for Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, but Mohammad Amir’s act was on the cards. Sporting the white jacket, while he grips the coveted piece of silverware in one hand, he can proudly hold the CT Player of the Match award in the other.