Ibrahim Zadran breaks records, surpasses Tendulkar and Ganguly to set New Champions Trophy milestone

Ibrahim Zadran made history on February 26, 2025, during the Champions Trophy group match between Afghanistan and England in Lahore. The 23-year-old opener smashed a record-breaking 177 runs, propelling Afghanistan to 325-7, after they had found themselves in a tricky situation at 37-3.

The match, held at the Gaddafi Stadium, was crucial for both teams as the loser would be eliminated from the semi-final race. Afghanistan, coming off a tough opening loss, faced the challenge of playing under the shadow of a boycott by certain British politicians due to concerns about women's rights in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Despite the pressure, Zadran took charge, forming key partnerships—103 runs with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40) and 111 runs with Mohammad Nabi, who scored a quickfire 40 off 24 balls.

Zadran's remarkable 177, achieved from 146 balls, included 12 fours and six sixes. Not only did it surpass his own previous highest ODI score of 162, but it also set a new Champions Trophy record, breaking the mark of 165 by England's Ben Duckett earlier in the tournament.

Zadran's stunning performance eclipsed the achievements of cricket legends such as Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored 141 runs in previous tournaments. Zadran's feat made him the first player to post a 177 in the Champions Trophy.

The Afghanistan innings had a shaky start, with England's pace attack, led by Jofra Archer, taking early wickets. Archer and Mark Wood, who was later injured, had Afghanistan under pressure. But Zadran's counter-attacking knock turned the tide. The partnership with Shahidi steadied the ship, followed by a brisk stand with Nabi.

England’s bowlers were left scrambling to contain Zadran, who relentlessly punished them with aggressive strokes. Zadran's innings finally came to an end when he was dismissed by Liam Livingstone, who also took the wicket of Nabi in the final over.

This performance by Zadran, following Afghanistan's shocking win over England in the 2023 World Cup, highlighted the team's resilience and marked another significant achievement in their cricketing history.

Highest Individual Scores in Champions Trophy:

177 Ibrahim Zadran (vs. England, Lahore, 2025)

165 Ben Duckett (vs. Australia, Lahore, 2025)

145* Nathan Astle (vs. USA, The Oval, 2004)

145 Andy Flower (vs. India, Colombo, 2002)

141 Sourav Ganguly (vs. South Africa, Nairobi, 2000)

141 Sachin Tendulkar (vs. Australia, Dhaka, 1998)

141 Graeme Smith (vs. England, Centurion, 2009)