Fakhar's big reveal after final hundred

Pakistan batting hero Fakhar Zaman has revealed he feared he would miss the Champions Trophy final due to illness.

Fakhar hammered his maiden international century against India at The Oval, striking 12 fours and three sixes on his way to 114 as Pakistan posted an imposing total of 4-338.

Quick Single: Pakistan v India match report

But it was an innings that almost didn't happen, the 27-year-old explaining he'd had a torrid night's sleep due to a bug that he thought would rule him out of the game.

"Yesterday I wasn't feeling very well after our practice session, so thanks to my physio who was with me the whole night," he said.

"I was thinking I wasn't going to be able to play ... but he told me I would be fine in the morning. So thanks to him."

Fakhar had his fair share of luck early in his innings after India elected to bowl first. Having almost been run out when on one, the international rookie was caught behind off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah when on three only for replays to confirm the Indian quick had over-stepped.

And he took full advantage of the two early let-offs as he clobbered his first one-day international century from just his fourth match.

Quick Single: The Kiwi behind fearless Fakhar

Having made his debut against South Africa just 11 days ago, he has posted scores of 31, 50, 57 and now 114 to become the first Pakistan batsman to score three 50-plus scores in his first four ODIs.

He also became the first Pakistan batsman since Majid Khan in 1975 to score three consecutive fifties in a major tournament and he's the first man from his country to score a century in the final of a major event.

Despite being thrown in to the side during a major tournament, Fakhar's aggression has been the key to Pakistan's stunning form reversal since they were thrashed by India in their opening group game.

The left-hander has struck 33 boundaries and five sixes in four matches and says he has the full backing of skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur to go on the attack.

"(Sarfraz) knows me very well so he's told me to go and play my natural game," he told cricket.com.au this week.

"And Mickey also knows me and he's just said to play like I play in domestic cricket because the wickets are very true."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Results

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England beat New Zealand by 87 runs

7 June – Pakistan beat South Africa by 19 runs (DLS method)

8 June – Sri Lanka beat India by seven wickets

9 June – Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets

10 June – England beat Australia by 40 runs (DLS method)

11 June – India beat South Africa by eight wickets

12 June – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets

14 June – First semi-final: England lost to Pakistan by eight wkts

15 June – Second semi-final: Bangladesh lost to India by nine wickets

18 June – Final: Pakistan beat India by 180 runs