ICC Champions Trophy is one of the elite cricket competitions at the international level. The top eight teams of the world compete against each other in the 50-over format. Pakistan are the defending champions of this mega event. They won the trophy in 2017.
Four years before that, MS Dhoni led the Indian team to the ICC Champions Trophy title. As has been the trend in Dhoni’s teams, he rarely makes changes. Dhoni played with the same 11 players in the entire tournament. The following four players traveled to England with the team but kept warming the benches, which is why fans may not remember that they were a part of the winning squad as well.
1. Irfan Pathan was a part of the Champions Trophy winning team
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan played his last international match in 2012. He was in Indian squads after that but never got a game. Pathan was one of the 15 players in the Indian squad for the mega event in 2013.
2. Amit Mishra was a part of the Champions Trophy winning team
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra played a few matches for India after the mega event in 2013. His last appearance for the country came in 2017 during a T20I against England.
3. Vinay Kumar
Former Indian fast bowler Vinay Kumar was also a part of the winning squad. The Karnataka pacer’s last international appearance came later that year in an ODI against the Australian cricket team.
4. Murali Vijay
MS Dhoni tried a new opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in that mega event. Both players clicked and never allowed another opener to take their place. Murali Vijay was the backup option in the squad but he warmed the benches for the full tournament.
