The ICC Champions Trophy has witnessed many iconic performances in its grand finales. From all-round heroics to match-winning centuries, the tournament’s finals have seen players rise to the occasion under immense pressure. Here’s a look at all the Player-of-the-Match winners in the ICC Champions Trophy finals over the years.
Full List of ICC Champions Trophy Final Player-of-the-Match Winners
1998 – Jacques Kallis (South Africa) vs West Indies
- Performance: 37 (51) & 5/30
- Kallis’ all-round brilliance led South Africa to its first ICC title.
- His 5-wicket haul restricted West Indies to 245/3, and his crucial 37 helped chase down the target with four wickets in hand.
2000 – Chris Cairns (New Zealand) vs India
- Performance: 102* (113)
- New Zealand was struggling at 132/5 while chasing 265.
- Cairns’ unbeaten century guided them to their first ICC trophy, securing a 4-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
2002 – No Player-of-the-Match (India & Sri Lanka Joint Winners)
- The final was washed out twice due to rain in Colombo.
- Both teams were declared joint winners, making it the only ICC final without an individual award.
2004 – Ian Bradshaw (West Indies) vs England
- Performance: 34* (51) & 2/29
- West Indies was 147/8 while chasing 218 but Bradshaw’s unbeaten 71-run stand with Courtney Browne secured a 2-wicket victory.
- His disciplined bowling (2/29) played a key role in restricting England.
2006 – Shane Watson (Australia) vs West Indies
- Performance: 57* (88) & 2/11
- Australia bowled West Indies out for 138 in a rain-affected final.
- Watson’s steady unbeaten 57 ensured an easy chase, securing Australia’s first Champions Trophy title.
2009 – Shane Watson (Australia) vs New Zealand
- Performance: 105* (129)
- Australia was 6/2 while chasing 201, but Watson’s century guided them to a 6-wicket win.
- This marked Australia’s second consecutive Champions Trophy victory.
2013 – Ravindra Jadeja (India) vs England
- Performance: 33* (25) & 2/24
- In a rain-shortened 20-over final, Jadeja’s late 33-run knock helped India post 129/7.
- Defending 15 runs in the final over, his tight bowling secured a 5-run victory for India.
2017 – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) vs India
- Performance: 114 (106)
- Zaman’s fearless batting helped Pakistan post 338/4, their highest total in an ICC final.
- His century led Pakistan to a historic 180-run win, their first Champions Trophy title.