Best eleven of Champions Trophy 2013

Shikhar Dhawan

The recently concluded Champions Trophy had lots of excitement, especially for the Indian fans as they would be over the moon after successfully clinching the second consecutive major ICC title. England was no walk in the park and they made sure that India sweated it out to get past them.

The finals would be remembered for a long time by the Indian fans for the sheer grit and determination exhibited by the Indian youngsters. It was a slap on the face of the critics who wrote off India even before the tournament commenced.

Apart from the Indian youngsters, there were a few other players who played beautifully and they deserve a mention for carrying the team throughout the tournament. I am going to list out the best eleven that played in the tournament:

The Openers:

Shikhar Dhawan: The classy southpaw from Delhi was a revelation in this tournament. His consistence performances demonstrated that his whirlwind Test debut knock was no eyewash and that he truly belongs at this level. Playing instead of an experienced Virender Sehwag, Dhawan displayed a maturity at the top. His five innings comprised both aggression and caution as he was visibly hungry for runs. Being on the top of the run-getters table, he is an automatic choice for the opening slot.

Alastair Cook (C): The dynamic southpaw from England has led his side brilliantly to reach the finals of the last edition of the Champions trophy. He amassed two half centuries in the tournament with an average of 40 and has been a driving force in England’s success in the recent times.

The middle-order:

Jonathan Trott: The South African-born English middle order batsman is a definition for consistency. His lowest score in the last 12 ODI innings is 37 (not considering the final since it was a 20-over game) and that speaks volumes about his form and temperament. He has successfully guided England to the final of the tournament and his contribution was crucial in England’s journey to the top. He would be the perfect number three batsmen, especially if Dhawan falls early.

Kumar Sangakkara (Wk): The elegant left hander from Sri Lanka has been in fine touch in the tournament. He stroked a classy century against England in a must-win game. He has the ability to play long innings and his consistency is second to none. He is one of the few players who could be called a complete batsman since his record in both ODI’s and Tests are enviable. He is in the top five in the run getters list in Champions trophy and would be a worthy addition to the playing eleven.