ICC Champions Trophy: Top 5 run getters of 2017 from the participating nations

Modified May 30, 2017 01:30 IST

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 21: The ICC Champions Trophy on February 21, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Neville Hopwood/Getty Images) — The best batting side might just run away with this trophy given the nature of the pitches in England

#1 Faf du Plessis (South Africa) - 677 runs

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis hits a boundary during the 2nd Royal London One Day International between England and South Africa at The Ageas Bowl on May 27, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) — du Plessis has embraced his role at no.3 in the ODI team

Matches - 13, Runs - 672, Avg - 67.20, SR - 90.93, HS - 185

The South African Test captaincy has pushed Faf du Plessis to achieve greater things in the game and the charismatic batsman has been on a run-scoring spree ever since. Unsurprisingly, he tops the list of run scorers in 2017 with 672 runs in 13 games, including 2 hundreds and 4 half-centuries.

Du Plessis was at his best in the series against Sri Lanka after the New Year, slamming two hundreds, including a career best 185 in Cape Town. He also ended the New Zealand series on a good note with back to back half-centuries and has looked in good touch in England so far.

Surely, the time has come for the champion cricketer to emerge from de Villiers' shadows.