The ICC Champions Trophy, also called the ICC Knockout Tournament, was first held in 1998 in Bangladesh. The South African team won that very first one with a win against the West Indies in the final. The competition was first based on a simple knockout format—win or go home. It was expanded by adding a group-stage format to the tournament in 2002, and officially renamed as the ICC Champions Trophy.
Multi-Champions
Both India and Australia have dominated the tournament, and each has taken two titles. Australia won it in 2006 and 2009, while India split the 2002 title with Sri Lanka under a rain-abandoned final before winning outright in 2013.
Unforgettable 2002 Final
The 2002 Champions Trophy final is one of the most iconic in cricket history. Even after 110.4 overs were bowled over two days, constant rain terminated the game without a result, resulting in a tied title between India and Sri Lanka.
Associate Teams’ Participation
Between 2000 and 2004, associate nations were eligible to participate in the Champions Trophy. Kenya took part in all three tournaments (2000, 2002, and 2004) but did not get past the group stage. The Netherlands appeared in 2002, and the USA made a first-time appearance in 2004.
Pakistan’s Lost Hosting Rights
Pakistan was originally scheduled to host the 2009 Champions Trophy, but due to security issues, the tournament was shifted to South Africa.
Australia’s Downfall Since 2009 Victory
After the championship win in 2009, Australia has not fared well in the tournament. The team didn’t manage to achieve a single victory in the 2013 and 2017 tournaments, getting eliminated in the group stage after losses and rain-hit matches.
Record-Breaking Performances
West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle is the overall leading run-getter in Champions Trophy history with a total of 791 runs off 17 innings. He includes three centuries on that record with 474 of them scored alone in the 2006 event. Gayle joins a group of elite cricketers along with Herschelle Gibbs, Sourav Ganguly, and Shikhar Dhawan having three centuries to their names.
Bowling Records
New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history with 28 dismissals.
Bangladesh’s Standout Performances
Tamim Iqbal has the highest number of runs by a Bangladeshi player in the Champions Trophy, with 293 runs in the 2017 tournament at an average of 73.25. He achieved this through a hundred and two half-centuries. Mohammad Rafique, on the other hand, is Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with six wickets in eight matches.
