India opener Shikhar Dhawan was named player of the ICC Champions Trophy after his run-fest in the premier 50-over tournament.
Dhawan showed tremendous consistency with the bat and ended the tournament with 363 runs from five matches, including two centuries and one half-century. He averaged a staggering 90.75 with the bat at a stunning strike-rate of 101.39.
The stylish southpaw announced his arrival on the global stage when he clubbed 12 fours and a six in his 94-ball 114 that helped India beat South Africa by 26 runs in the tournament opener in Cardiff. The 26-year-old then hit an unbeaten 102 off 107 balls with 10 fours and a six in his team's eight-wicket victory over the West Indies.
His successive centuries made him the first batsman in the history of the tournament to score back-to-back centuries.
Dhawan continued his fairy-tale run when he scored less than a run-a-ball 48 in India's eight-wicket victory over Pakistan, and then scored a 92-ball 68 to ensure India romped to a comfortable eight wickets' victory over Sri Lanka in the second semi-final in Cardiff.
In the final against England, Dhawan scored 31 off 24 balls to help India to victory by five runs here Sunday.
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Dhawan, in association with Rohit Sharma, also featured in two century and two half-century opening wicket partnerships.
He was selected as the Player of the Tournament by a five-person selection panel comprising Geoff Allardice (ICC general manager - Cricket, and chairman Event Technical Committee), Javagal Srinath (former India fast bowler and ICC elite panel match referee), Aleem Dar (ICC elite panel umpire), Scyld Berry (Wisden Editor from 2008-2011 and Sunday Telegraph correspondent) and Stephen Brenkley (correspondent of The Independent and the Independent On Sunday).
Past winners:
1998 - Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
2000 - Not awarded
2002 - Not awarded
2004 - Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)
2006 - Chris Gayle (West Indies)
2009 - Ricky Ponting (Australia)
2013 - Shikhar Dhawan (India)