Top 5 Batsmen With Highest Strike Rate In ICC Champions Trophy
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:51 PM
ICC Champions Trophy is one of the most coveted tournaments in cricket as it is played among the best of the cricket playing nations once in every four years.
Also dubbed as mini world cup, all the participating teams give their best and have always featured the best talent in the world since its inception in the late 1990s. The likes of Australia and India have managed to win it twice in the last seven editions and the tournament has so far seen six different winners.
The 2017 edition will yet again see eight best teams clashing against each other in the major event in England as they look to take the prized trophy back to their home. Bangladesh is set to make their debut into the tournament for the first time as they growing on a consistent basis in the ODI format.
Champions Trophy has proved to be the stage for some stellar knocks and incredible spells over the decades. To top the strike rating of any tournament would mean that player is among the elite clean hitters of the game and here we look at the top 5 batsmen with the highest strike rate in the history of Champions Trophy.
#5. Jonathan Trott- 91.60
Termed as a test batsman, Jonathan Trott had worked hard to get into the limited overs team as he soon became an important player for England across all three formats.
Trott has played only one Champions Trophy edition in 2o13 but was their go-to man in the tournament as he amassed an impressive 229 runs in just 5 innings to help England reach the finals. He has achieved those runs at a staggering strike rate of 91.60.
Quite a surprise start to the list as he is not subbed as a great hitter of the cricket ball.
#4. Adam Gilchrist- 94.08
One of the most feared openers in world cricket, Adam Gilchrist along with Matthew Hayden had formed the most feared opening partnership for Australia in the 21st century. The duo has played an unprecedented role in Australia’s glory days.
Gilchrist, in particular, has taken the bowlers to cleaners at will. The power hitting left-hander has scored his 382 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 94.08 over the first five editions before retiring in 2007.
#3. Virender Sehwag- 100.77
Arguably the most fearsome batsman ever produced by India, Virender Sehwag has redefined the way opening batting should be played in his playing days as he took on some of greatest bowlers and left them clueless.
The destructive Sehwag had the capability to fear opposition bowlers even when he is not on the song as he took on bowlers from ball one. Having formed impressive open partnerships with Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir during his career, Sehwag never played second fiddle to any batsman as he went on with his business.
He has an incredible strike rate of 100.77 in 10 games as he piled up 387 runs in Champions Trophy.
#2. Shikhar Dhawan- 101.39
Having made a late debut into Team India, Shikhar Dhawan was the best player for India in their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph in England. The southpaw has looked at a different level in English conditions as he managed to score runs against every opponent India played in the tournament.
He was adjudged man of the tournament for his 363 runs in just 5 games and he scored those runs at a strike rate of 101.39. India will expect a similar performance from Dhawan as they are keen to retain the trophy in 2017.
#1. Craig McMillan- 102
Not quite the name anyone expects!! New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan was an integral part of Kiwis team that managed to win their only ICC trophy when they managed to win Champions Trophy in 2000.
The Black Caps batsman had always played according to the team needs and was a great talent in their middle order back then. He has managed to score 255 runs in Champions Trophy in just 7 innings at an impressive average of 51 and an incredible 102 strike rate.
There could be quite a shift in the strike rates in the 2017 edition as the batsmen are more evolved with their batting and five men inside the circle also help them get easy boundaries.