The ICC Champions Trophy has witnessed several title-clinching performances over the years. While cricket remains a team game, individual brilliance has also played a big role in carrying the team to the coveted title.
From Jacques Kallis to Shikhar Dhawan and Hasan Ali, the ICC Champions Trophy has seen several players lead their country to glory with their dominating run in a season.
Here is the full list of Player-of-the-Tournament award winners in the ICC Champions Trophy:
1998: Jacques Kallis (SA) – 164 runs & 8 wickets
FILE PHOTO: Jacques Kallis celebrates a wicket against England in the 1998 Wills International Cup.
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SRIDHARAN N/The Hindu
FILE PHOTO: Jacques Kallis celebrates a wicket against England in the 1998 Wills International Cup.
| Photo Credit:
SRIDHARAN N/The Hindu
Jacques Kallis was a vital cog in South Africa’s march to the title. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with eight scalps. With the bat, he contributed 164 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
He particularly made an impact in the final, picking five wickets for 30 runs. His spell helped the Proteas restrict West Indies to 245 runs. During South Africa’s chase, he scored 37 runs as his team won the decider by four wickets.
2004: Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI) – 166 runs
FILE PHOTO: Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan celebrate after their victory in the Final against England in the 2004 Champions Trophy.
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Getty Images
FILE PHOTO: Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan celebrate after their victory in the Final against England in the 2004 Champions Trophy.
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Getty Images
With 166 runs in four innings, Ramnaresh Sarwan was the second-highest scorer in the 2004 edition.
Though he was dismissed for just five runs in the final against England, his half-centuries against Pakistan (56* off 85) in the semifinal and his 99-ball 75 in a group-stage game against South Africa played a crucial role in West Indies qualifying for the final.
2006: Chris Gayle (WI) – 474 runs
FILE PHOTO: Chris Gayle celebrates his century against South Africa in the 2006 Champions Trophy.
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DEEPAK KR/The Hindu
FILE PHOTO: Chris Gayle celebrates his century against South Africa in the 2006 Champions Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
DEEPAK KR/The Hindu
Chris Gayle won the Player-of-the-Tournament award for his 474 runs in eight innnings during the 2006 Champions Trophy. He was the highest run-scorer, with three centuries, and is the only Champions Trophy Player-of-the-Tournament awardee from the side losing the final.
His best, an unbeaten 133 off 135 balls, came in the semifinal against South Africa, leading West Indies to a comfortable six-wicket win in its pursuit of 259.
Gayle also struck hundreds against England and Bangladesh during the group stage and qualifying rounds, respectively.
2009: Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 288 runs
FILE PHOTO: Ricky Ponting celebrates his century against South Africa in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
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REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Ricky Ponting celebrates his century against South Africa in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
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REUTERS
Ricky Ponting led Australia from the front, scoring 288 runs in five innings as his side clinched a second-straight ICC Champions Trophy title.
His highest score in the tournament was an unbeaten 111, which he scored against archrival England in the semifinal. His 252-run partnership with Shane Watson got Australia to a nine-wicket victory. He scored two half-centuries as well.
2013: Shikhar Dhawan (IND) – 363 runs
FILE PHOTO: Shikar Dhawan celebrates his century against West Indies in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
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REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Shikar Dhawan celebrates his century against West Indies in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Shikhar Dhawan made a mark in the very first ICC tournament he was a part of. He topped the scoring charts with 363 runs in five innings.
He struck a 94-ball 114 which got India a win over South Africa in the campaign opener. He followed it up with another ton against West Indies, setting up a facile eight-wicket victory.
Even in the final, his 24-ball 31 got India a brisk start, which Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja encashed on in the rain-curtailed 20-over game against England.
2017: Hasan Ali (PAK) – 13 wickets
FILE PHOTO: Hasan Ali holds up his award for the Golden Ball winner at the presentation in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
FILE PHOTO: Hasan Ali holds up his award for the Golden Ball winner at the presentation in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Hasan Ali is the only bowler to have won the Player-of-the-Tournament award. He claimed the award for picking 13 wickets in five games at an average of under 15.
His best, three for 19, came against archrival India in the title match. He was also instrumental in Pakistan’s semifinal win over England, picking three for 33 to restrict the Three Lions to just 211 runs.
(NOTE: There was no Player-of-the-Tournament award for the 2000 and 2002 editions)