Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali revealed his best playing XI from the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after India won the title for the record third time on March 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. India defeated New Zealand in the final by four wickets to become the most successful team in the Champions Trophy’s history.
Well, Pakistan had a disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, finishing the tournament without a single win, resulting in no player finding a place on Basit Ali’s playing XI. However, the former Pakistan cricketer picked six Indian stars in his ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Playing XI.
Basit Ali’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 XI features 6 Indian players, no Pakistan player
Basit has picked Indian skipper and opener Rohit Sharma as his captain, praising his leadership and his remarkable fifty in the CT 2025 final against New Zealand. New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra was picked as Rohit’s opening partner, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer completing Basit’s top four.
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Rachin Ravindra’s two centuries, Virat Kohli’s incredible performances in the knockouts, and Shreyas Iyer’s consistent performances made them stand out performers of the Champions Trophy 2025. For the middle order, Basit selected KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper, followed by New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.
I will not go on the one made by ICC: Basit Ali on his best XI
Phillips’ all-round abilities and fielding skills, along with Omarzai’s impressive all-round performances, earned them a spot in the lineup in the former Pakistani selector’s playing XI. Basit’s bowling attack featured Mitchell Santner and Varun Chakaravarthy as the specialist spinners and Matt Henry and Mohammad Shami as the pace bowling specialists.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel, “I have made my playing 11. I have looked at performances in Dubai. I agree that there have been big performances in Gaddafi, but I have made the 11, 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.
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Basit Ali overlooks Axar Patel for Mitchell Santner
Basit further mentioned, “Rachin Ravindra at No. 2. Two centuries is a big thing. There is only one player at No. 3—Virat Kohli. He is an artist, and only one who plays can understand how he played. I have kept Shreyas Iyer at 4. His batting has played a big role in India’s win. At No. 5 is KL Rahul. A wicketkeeper and complete batter.”
He signed off by saying, “The best fielder, dangerous batter, and bowler Glenn Phillips is at No. 6. Axar Patel or Mitchell Santner comes next. My 70% vote is for Santner and 30% for Axar. Matt Henry at No. 9 and Shami at 10. He came from injury and bowled well here like he did in the World Cup. At 11 is Varun Chakaravarthy. This is my team.”
There is no player from England, Australia, and South Africa in Basit’s CT 2025 playing XI.
Basit Ali’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma (C), Rachin Ravindra, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Glenn Phillips, Azamtullah Omarzai, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Mohammad Shami, and Varun Chakravarthy.
