Pakistan hosts, India plays in Dubai
The Champions Trophy returned after eight years and went to Pakistan, which had been due to host the 2009 edition before it was moved on security grounds. It was the first global tournament staged in the country since the 1996 World Cup, and the grounds at Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi were rebuilt for it.
India declined to travel. After several months of negotiation the ICC agreed a hybrid arrangement under which India's matches would be played in the United Arab Emirates, with a reciprocal provision for Pakistan at Indian-hosted events through 2027. In practice this meant India played all five of their matches, including both knockout games, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on a slow surface they knew well and without leaving one venue. Several former players, including Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, said publicly that the arrangement gave India an advantage; the ICC did not change it.
The groups
Group A opened with New Zealand beating Pakistan by 60 runs in Karachi, Will Young and Tom Latham both making hundreds. India beat Bangladesh and then Pakistan, both by six wickets, Virat Kohli making 100 not out in the second. Pakistan's last match, against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, was abandoned without a ball bowled, which eliminated them; they finished the tournament they were hosting without a win. India beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the final group game, Varun Chakravarthy taking 5 for 42.
Group B included Afghanistan for the first time. South Africa beat them by 107 runs in Karachi. Australia chased 352 against England at Lahore with fifteen balls to spare, Josh Inglis making 120 not out from 86 balls after Ben Duckett had made 165. Afghanistan then beat England by 8 runs at the same ground, Ibrahim Zadran making 177, the highest individual score in the history of the competition, and Azmatullah Omarzai taking 5 for 58. Australia's match against South Africa in Rawalpindi was abandoned, as was Afghanistan's against Australia after 12.5 overs of the reply, which ended Afghanistan's hopes on net run-rate. South Africa and Australia advanced.
Knockouts
India beat Australia by four wickets in Dubai, Kohli making 84 in a chase of 265. New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs at Lahore, Rachin Ravindra making 108 and Kane Williamson 102 in a total of 362 for 6, the highest of the tournament.
The final in Dubai was low-scoring by comparison. New Zealand made 251 for 7, Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with 63 and Kuldeep Yadav taking 2 for 40. India's four spinners bowled 38 of the 50 overs. Rohit Sharma then made 76 from 83 balls at the top of the chase, and although India lost wickets steadily through the middle, KL Rahul finished on 34 not out and the target was reached with an over to spare.
It was India's third title, after the shared trophy of 2002 and the win of 2013, making them the first side to win the competition three times. Rohit Sharma became the first captain named man of the match in a Champions Trophy final. Ravindra, with 263 runs, and Matt Henry, with 10 wickets, led both lists for the losing finalists.