Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir reflected on his side’s memorable win over India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final as the next edition of the tournament approaches, starting February 19. Amir recalled the pivotal moment when he dismissed Virat Kohli during India’s chase, which he felt all but confirmed Pakistan’s victory.
Pakistan set India a challenging target of 339 runs in the final at The Oval. Amir delivered a breathtaking new-ball spell, taking the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan in his opening overs, leaving India struggling at 33/3 after 9 overs. Pakistan ultimately won the match by a commanding 180 runs, clinching their first-ever Champions Trophy title.
With just over 20 days until the 2025 edition, Amir revisited the 2017 final in the latest episode of Straight Up, quoted by Cricketpakistan.
“Honestly, the pitch wasn’t swinging much. Even in the morning, there wasn’t much movement. But I had a feeling something special was about to happen. When I got Rohit out first, the energy kept building. When Kohli got out, I thought, ‘We’ve won 60% of the game.’ It was a surreal feeling,” Amir shared.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, a key hero in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, recalled his early reprieve when he nicked Jasprit Bumrah to the keeper on 4, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. Fakhar capitalized on the mistake, scoring 114 off 106 balls in Pakistan’s total of 338.
Fakhar Zaman added, “When I said that, it was just a casual remark during a conversation with my teammates. No one took it seriously. But when it actually happened, everyone started joking that I had predicted it in my dreams! I didn’t realize the magnitude of what we had achieved until we landed in Pakistan. People came from all over to celebrate with us.”
Fakhar Zaman’s maiden century played a crucial role in Pakistan’s victory, earning him Player of the Match honors. The left-handed opener had only featured in a few games for Pakistan before the final, having made his debut earlier that year.