Champions Trophy / Rohit was dropped by ICC, he was made captain in the best team of CT 2025

In the Champions Trophy 2025, India defeated New Zealand and won the title after 12 years. Rohit Sharma scored 76 runs in the final and became the Player of the Match. But he did not find a place in the ICC's Best XI, as his performance throughout the tournament was average.

Champions Trophy: The Champions Trophy 2025 has concluded, and after a long wait of 12 years, the Indian cricket team has once again claimed this prestigious trophy. Under the leadership of captain Rohit Sharma, Team India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final to achieve glory.

Rohit Sharma’s Brilliant Captaincy and Match-Winning Innings

The final match was played in Dubai on March 9, where New Zealand batted first and posted a total of 251 runs. In response, Team India chased down the target with six wickets in hand, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s brilliant knock of 76 runs. His decisive innings earned him the 'Player of the Match' award. With this victory, India secured back-to-back Champions Trophy titles under his captaincy.

ICC’s Shocking Decision

While the entire nation was celebrating India’s triumph and Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made a controversial decision just a day after the tournament’s conclusion. ICC announced the ‘Team of the Tournament,’ but surprisingly, Rohit Sharma was neither named as the captain nor included in the squad.

Why Was Rohit Left Out?

Questions are being raised over ICC’s selection process, especially since Rohit Sharma was the star performer in the final match. However, his overall performance in the tournament was not exceptional. Rohit managed to score only 180 runs in five innings, making it difficult for him to secure a spot as an opener.

Instead, ICC selected the tournament’s highest run-scorers, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, as the openers.

Six Indian Players Included in the Best XI

Despite Rohit’s omission, six Indian players made it to ICC’s ‘Team of the Tournament,’ including Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel (12th man). Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner was appointed as the skipper of this team.

ICC’s ‘Team of the Tournament’

Mitchell Santner (Captain) (New Zealand)
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
Virat Kohli (India)
Shreyas Iyer (India)
KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper) (India)
Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
Mohammed Shami (India)
Varun Chakravarthy (India)
Axar Patel (India) (12th man)

ICC’s Selection Under Scrutiny

ICC’s selection has sparked debates among cricket fans and analysts. Many believe that leaving out Rohit Sharma, despite his match-winning performance in the final, was an unfair decision.

Regardless of the controversy, Team India’s spectacular victory has given the nation a reason to celebrate. This memorable tournament saw India reaffirm its dominance, proving once again why they are true champions.