Most Runs in Champions Trophy 2025: Top Batters Who Rewrote History
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was a spectacle of batting brilliance, blending veteran expertise with youthful flair. Virat Kohli’s record-breaking consistency, Ben Duckett’s explosive strokeplay, and Ibrahim Zadran’s historic 177-headlined a tournament where runs flowed across venues in Pakistan and the UAE. Below, we break down the most runs in Champions Trophy 2025, analyze key performances, and decode what made these batters unstoppable.
Top Run-Scorers in Champions Trophy 2025
Here’s the final tally of the tournament’s leading batters:
| Player | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Duckett (ENG) | 3 | 227 | 165 | 75.66 | 108.61 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 3 | 225 | 120 | 75.00 | 96.56 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 4 | 217 | 100* | 72.33 | 83.14 |
| Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) | 3 | 216 | 177 | 72.00 | 106.40 |
| Shreyas Iyer (IND) | 4 | 195 | 79 | 48.75 | 79.91 |
1. Ben Duckett (England)
Key Contribution: 165 vs Australia | Runs: 227 | Impact: 9.8/10
Ben Duckett’s 165 off 143 balls against Australia in Lahore was a masterclass in pacing an innings. His knock, featuring 17 fours and 3 sixes, propelled England to 351/8 and earned him the top spot for most runs in Champions Trophy 2025. Despite Australia’s eventual win, Duckett’s ability to dominate both pace (Starc, Cummins) and spin (Zampa) stood out.
Tactical Breakdown:
- Targeted Australia’s middle overs (overs 11–40), scoring 72% of his runs in this phase.
- Maintained a strike rate of 139.53 against fast bowlers, exploiting shorter boundaries.
2. Joe Root (England)
Key Contribution: 120 vs South Africa | Runs: 225 | Impact: 9.5/10
Root’s 120 against South Africa in Karachi was a textbook anchor innings. His 198-run partnership with Duckett rescued England from 32/2, showcasing his ability to rotate strike (43 singles) while accelerating when needed.
Notable Stat:
- Scored 84% of his runs between third man and long-on, exploiting gaps in Proteas’ field placements.
3. Virat Kohli (India)
Key Contribution: 100* vs Pakistan | Runs: 217 | Impact: 9.7/10
Kohli’s unbeaten 100* against Pakistan in Dubai solidified his reputation as India’s chase maestro. His 112-ball knock, coupled with an 84* in the semi-final against Australia, propelled him to third place for most runs in Champions Trophy 2025.
Records Shattered:
- Became India’s all-time leading run-scorer in Champions Trophy history (746 runs), surpassing Shikhar Dhawan.
- Surpassed Sachin Tendulkar for most 50+ scores (24) in ICC ODI events2.
4. Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
Key Contribution: 177 vs England | Runs: 216 | Impact: 10/10
Zadran’s 177 off 146 balls against England in Lahore was the highest individual score of the tournament. His innings, which included 12 fours and 6 sixes, powered Afghanistan to 325/8 and an 8-run victory that eliminated England.
Key Strength:
- Accelerated from 50 (65 balls) to 150 (134 balls), showcasing adaptability to shifting match dynamics.
5. Shreyas Iyer (India)
Key Contribution: 79 vs New Zealand | Runs: 195 | Impact: 8.5/10
Iyer’s 79 against New Zealand in Sharjah rescued India from 89/4, guiding them to a competitive 265/9. Though criticized for his strike rate (79.91), his ability to stabilize the innings proved vital.
Tournament Highlights: Batting Masterclasses
A. Kohli’s Century vs Pakistan: A Chase for the Ages
Chasing 265 against Pakistan, Kohli anchored India’s innings with a 112-ball 100*. His partnerships with Rohit Sharma (58) and KL Rahul (45*) highlighted his role as India’s middle-order linchpin.
Defining Moment:
- Crushed 18 runs off Shaheen Afridi’s 45th over to seal the win.
B. Zadran’s 177: Afghanistan’s Coming-of-Age Knock
Zadran’s 177 against England featured audacious sixes off Mark Wood (95 mph) and clever dabs against Adil Rashid. His innings accounted for 54% of Afghanistan’s total runs.
C. Duckett’s 165: A Lone Warrior in Lahore
Despite England’s loss, Duckett’s 165 stood out for its calculated aggression. He scored 62% of his runs in the arc between cover and mid-wicket, dominating Australia’s pace trio.
Technical Analysis: Why These Batters Dominated
1. Adaptability to Mixed Conditions
- UAE’s Slow Pitches: Kohli and Iyer focused on strike rotation, averaging 4.8 runs/over in middle overs1.
- Pakistani Flat Tracks: Duckett and Zadran capitalized on true bounce, scoring 68% of runs in the cover-to-mid-wicket corridor.
2. Pressure Handling
- Kohli’s 84* in the semi-final came under a required rate of 6.8, with 47% of runs scored between long-on and deep midwicket.
- Zadran accelerated after Afghanistan lost 2 wickets in the first 10 overs.
3. Partnership Building
- Root and Duckett’s 198-run stand vs South Africa was the highest of the tournament.
- Kohli and Rahul’s unbroken 122-run partnership vs Pakistan included 42 singles and 9 doubles.
SEO-Optimized FAQs
Q1: Who scored the most runs in Champions Trophy 2025?
A: England’s Ben Duckett topped the charts with 227 runs, followed by Joe Root (225) and Virat Kohli (217).
Q2: How many centuries were scored in the tournament?
A: Four: Duckett (165), Zadran (177), Root (120), and Kohli (100*).
Q3: Did Virat Kohli break any records?
A: Yes! Kohli became India’s highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history (746 runs) and surpassed Sachin Tendulkar for most 50+ scores in ICC events.
Final Thoughts: A New Benchmark for ODI Batting
The most runs in Champions Trophy 2025 leaderboard reflects a perfect blend of experience and innovation. With batters adapting seamlessly to diverse conditions, this edition has set a new standard for ODI cricket. As teams prepare for the 2027 World Cup, the tactical lessons from this tournament—especially around middle-overs acceleration and partnership-building—will shape future strategies.
Read about India vs AUS : https://worldsinsight.com/india-vs-australia-champions-trophy-2025/
References: ICC
