Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Title winners India dominated the Team of the Tournament for ICC’s Champions Trophy 2025 with five players — Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakaravarthy — named in the side. India lifted the Champions Trophy, beating New Zealand by four wickets in the final on Sunday, and became the most successful side in the tournament’s history with a third title.
Kohli, who finished as the second-highest run-getter for India with 218 runs, scored an unbeaten century against Pakistan before playing an 84-run vital knock against Australia in the semifinal. During the tournament, Kohli also crossed the landmark of 14,000 ODI runs, becoming just the third player after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara to do so.
Middle-order batter Iyer finished as the top scorer for India with 243 runs, including two successive half-centuries against Pakistan and New Zealand in the group stage. He played a key knock of 48 runs in the final, while his lowest batting return was 45 runs, proving to be a pillar of consistency in trying batting conditions in Dubai.
India’s wicketkeeper-batter, Rahul, was reliable behind the stumps and a clutch performer in his role as a finisher with the bat. From four innings, he finished unbeaten on three occasions. He was particularly crucial during India’s chases in the all-important knockout games, scoring unbeaten 42 and 34 against Australia and New Zealand, respectively.
Shami scalped nine wickets in the tournament, including a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the opening match. He also contributed in the semifinals and finals, picking four wickets in the last two contests.
India’s mystery spinner Chakaravarthy scalped nine wickets in three high-stakes affairs. Having only played in one previous ODI before the Champions Trophy, the 33-year-old repaid selectors’ faith.
The ICC’s Team of the Tournament also featured all-rounder Axar Patel as the 12th player. Axar contributed with the ball, taking five wickets, and with the bat, putting in a total of 109 runs, including 29 in the final. He was no slouch in the field, either, with two fine catches to his name. Apart from Indian players, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Matt Henry were also included in the side. Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai were also picked in the playing 11.
