The world’s top-ranked ODI group, the holders and the 2000 champions firming as favourites to elevate the trophy as soon as once more.
Pleasure, bragging rights and a $2.24m winner’s cheque can be on the road when the world’s prime eight one-day worldwide groups meet within the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, starting on Wednesday.
Pakistan received the last edition in 2017, defeating India within the remaining at The Oval in England. This time round, Pakistan will look to rejoice the return of a serious ICC occasion to their nation after 29 years by profitable the crown in entrance of an adoring dwelling crowd.
In the meantime, T20 world champions India could have their eyes set on avenging that devastating 180-run defeat to Pakistan eight years in the past and are eyeing a second successive ICC title in two years.
Unassuming New Zealand will depend themselves amongst the contenders after their spectacular win within the tri-nation sequence hosted in Pakistan, which additionally included South Africa.
Australia’s lack of their talismanic captain Pat Cummins, in addition to Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh, has seen them stoop into disarray and out of rivalry for the title.
Right here’s a have a look at the three favourites for victory on the ICC Champions Trophy:
India
Finest consequence: Champions (2002, 2013)
ODI rating: 1
Gamers to look at: Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya
The 50-over World Cup in 2023 was set to be India’s crowning glory on dwelling soil, till Australia turned the tables on the undefeated host nation and walked away with the title on November 19, 2023.
Rohit Sharma’s males brushed apart that crushing remaining loss, regrouped, and simply seven months later had been topped T20 world champions.
Up to now yr, India have been in scintillating kind in restricted overs cricket, managing to separate their dismal Check performances to maintain dominating opposing groups in T20 and ODI codecs.
Their current 3-0 drubbing of England in a house ODI sequence, in addition to the prolific run-scoring type of top-order batter Shubman Gill, make India the main contenders for the Champions Trophy title. Kuldeep Yadav’s wily leg-break bowling and Hardik Pandya’s ever-reliable all-round kind make the two-time champions the facet to beat within the star-studded eight-team match.
Pakistan
Finest consequence: Champions (2017)
ODI rating: 3
Gamers to look at: Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman
Pakistan cricket’s endless rollercoaster experience of coach and captain sackings, embarrassing losses and inexplicable wins make any predictions on their efficiency appear silly. Nevertheless, the boys in inexperienced will relish the chance of profitable their first ICC title at dwelling and supply some respite to their devoted followers.
Pakistan have received their final three bilateral ODI sequence away from dwelling, together with a 2-1 overcome world champions Australia and a 3-0 trouncing of a formidable South Africa facet.
Mohammad Rizwan’s group boast an array of match-winning gamers, together with star batter Babar Azam, quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and hero of their 2017 title-winning run, Fakhar Zaman. Ought to all three gamers discover their greatest kind in entrance of a passionate and cricket-deprived dwelling crowd, Pakistan could have greater than a puncher’s probability of retaining the title they received eight years in the past.
New Zealand
Finest consequence: Champions (2000)
ODI rating: 4
Gamers to look at: Kane Williamson, Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner
New Zealand have discovered themselves within the knockout levels of all however one of many final 5 ICC limited-overs World Cups however have but to profit from their possibilities.
The Blackcaps haven’t received an ICC match because the 2000 version of the Champions Trophy, however below the shrewd management of all-rounder Mitchell Santner and the return to type of former captain Kane Williamson, New Zealand can be assured of turning the tide this time.
They enter the match on the again of a cushty tri-nation sequence win in Pakistan. Their prime batters have rediscovered run-scoring kind and their tempo bowlers have managed to sneak in wickets on the proper time.
New Zealand’s health and fielding requirements can be an added benefit after they face-off in opposition to prime South Asian sides on the match.
