For India, the competition has seen some remarkable batting efforts, with several players rising to the occasion.
Indian cricket has been blessed with a plethora of brilliant batters who have performed exceptionally well in marquee tournaments. History tells us that India's top batters have showcased their skills and contributed significantly to the team's success.
Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Shikhar Dhawan brought their unique style and strengths to the fore and left an indelible mark on the competition and cemented their legacies as some of the best in the game. Let's now delve into the list of six Indian batters who have scored the most runs in the Champions Trophy.
1. Shikhar Dhawan: Shikhar Dhawan's performances in ICC tournaments have indeed been impressive, but sadly, he often doesn't receive the same level of acclaim as some of his peers. His impact in key ICC matches speaks volumes about his skillset and value as a player. The veteran cricketer tops the list with 701 runs in 10 games, laced with 3 centuries and 3 fifties. Notably, he accumulated 338 runs in Champions Trophy 2017 edition, which helped him bag the golden bat award at the end of the tournament.
2. Sourav Ganguly: Sourav Ganguly, often referred to as 'Dada,' played the game with an aggressive and fearless mindset in big games. As a leader, he led by example during his heydays, taking on the bowlers and setting the tone for the innings. He mustered 665 runs in 13 matches, including three centuries and as many fifties. Under his captaincy, Team India reached the finals of the 2002 edition but rain played spoilsport. As a result, India shared the trophy with Sri Lanka.
3. Rahul Dravid: Rahul Dravid, known as 'The Wall of Indian Cricket' aggregated 627 runs in 19 games including 6 fifties in ICC Champions Trophy. Team India benefited from his methodical and patient approach to batting in marquee games. His primary focus was on building a solid foundation and offering stability to the batting lineup.
4. Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli, the chase master, who is renowned for his aggressive yet calculated approach, comes next on the list with 529 runs in 13 games including five fifties. India's run-machine thrived under pressure and successfully took the responsibility of steering the team through challenging situations. His excessive thirst for runs and consistent performances in big tournaments made him one of the best batters in the world.
5. Rohit Sharma: Popularly known as 'Hitman' for his six-hitting abilities, Rohit Sharma has showcased his calm and composed approach in high-pressure games, a trait that helped him become a successful cricketer. He usually starts his innings slowly, assesses the conditions, before unleashing his fury with a wide array of attacking shots. The senior pro who was part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 title-winning team scored 481 runs in 10 matches, laced with 1 century and 4 fifties.
6. Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar, often cited as the 'God of Cricket,' had a knack for dictating the terms in the high-stakes environment. As far as the ICC Champions Trophy is concerned, his approach was no different. By combining his gameplay with technical brilliance and aggressive mindset, he took the bowlers from the get-go and made a surreal impact. Overall, he scored 441 runs in six matches, including 1 century and a fifty.