Come the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England and also the Proteas choked prior to the knock-outs after dropping their group-stage clashes. Ireland, England and India were wrapped over as the series was extended to seven series successes in a row. Detailed series wins Pakistan and South Africa were followed with an equally persuasive success in a tri-nation ODI series involving England and India. Back in 2014 and 2015, the two openers combined for nearly 2,500 ODI runs while discussing seven tons between them. But, none of these came close to matching his brilliance throughout the span. From the World Cup, they were near perfection with a narrow ancient championship reduction to co-hosts New Zealand being the only blemish in their victorious campaign. Thinking about the side had prevailed over the Blackcaps at a bilateral series before the tournament and would go on to beat them , the reduction in the semi-final was a bitter pill to swallow.