Indian players (Getty Images)Shaheen Afridi and Virat Kohli after India vs Pakistan match at ICC Champions Trophy. (X Photo)Indian players (Getty Images)Shaheen Afridi and Virat Kohli after India vs Pakistan match at ICC Champions Trophy. (X Photo)Indian players (Getty Images) Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has revealed his ICC Champions Trophy playing XI after the tournament concluded with India clinching a record third title in Dubai. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team defeated New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final to lift the coveted trophy. Interestingly, Basit Ali’s team featured no Pakistani players despite Pakistan’s presence in the tournament as the host nation. Moreover, his chosen XI slightly differed from the official ICC Team of the Tournament, most notably with Rohit Sharma as captain instead of New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali justified his choices by focusing on performances in Dubai rather than those in Lahore. He made it clear that his selection was independent of the ICC’s choices, saying: “I have made my playing XI. I have looked at performances in Dubai. I agree that there have been big performances in Gaddafi, but I have made the XI which I felt is right. I will not go on the one made by ICC. My captain is Rohit Sharma. He has performed as a captain, and his 76 in the final made the match one-sided.” Champions Return: Rohit, Hardik, Shreyas, Gambhir return after India’s title triumphBasit Ali praised the performances of his chosen players, particularly highlighting Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and match-winning knock of 76 in the final. He also lauded Virat Kohli, calling him an “artist” and acknowledging his irreplaceable presence at No. 3. “There is only one player at No. 3 – Virat Kohli. He is an artist, and only one who plays can understand how he played,” Basit said. Basit also explained the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer, emphasising his consistent contributions in the semifinal and final, stating: “He has improved a lot. His batting played a big role in India’s win. In the semifinal and final, he played well and took responsibility.” The former cricketer completed his XI by including KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper, Glenn Phillips as an all-round option, and Azmatullah Omarzai as a future all-round star. Basit also chose Mitchell Santner over Axar Patel as his primary spinner, but admitted it was a tough call. Basit Ali’s Champions Trophy XI: Rohit Sharma (Captain, IND), Rachin Ravindra (NZ), Virat Kohli (IND), Shreyas Iyer (IND), KL Rahul (WK, IND), Glenn Phillips (NZ), Azamtullah Omarzai (AFG), Mitchell Santner (NZ), Matt Henry (NZ), Mohammed Shami (IND) and Varun Chakaravarthy (IND) – 12th Man: Axar Patel (IND)Hardik Pandya: ‘I know our father is watching us and blessing us’ICC Team of the TournamentThe official ICC XI had Santner as captain and included Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, unlike Basit’s selection. However, both teams featured the likes of Kohli, Shami, Ravindra, and Phillips, reflecting their impactful performances throughout the tournament. The exclusion of Pakistani players from Basit’s team sparked some reactions, but he stood by his picks, emphasising that the selections were purely based on performance rather than national bias. “This is my team,” he concluded confidently.ICC Team of the Champions Trophy: Rachin Ravindra (NZ), Ibrahim Zadran (AFG), Virat Kohli (IND), Shreyas Iyer (IND), KL Rahul (WK, IND), Glenn Phillips (NZ), Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG), Mitchell Santner (Captain, NZ), Mhammed Shami (IND), Matt Henry (NZ) and Varun Chakaravarthy (IND) – 12th Man: Axar Patel (IND)Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Find out how to watch IPL 2025 in Canada and the USA.
Basit Ali picks Champions Trophy XI with no Pakistani players, backs Rohit Sharma as captain | Cricket News
