For the first time since 2017, the Champions Trophy returns with the tournament to be held across Pakistan and the UAE. Eight teams will feature across the 15 day tournament, can anyone stop India? Check out Jack Tobin’s tournament preview below!
2025 ICC Champions Trophy Preview
Hosts
Pakistan were awarded the tournament in 2021 as the host, however after India’s refusal to play in Pakistan the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was confirmed as the venue that India will play their games at. Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are the venues that will be used in Pakistan.
Format
The eight teams have been split into two groups, with Group A featuring Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand. Group B has Australia, Afghanistan, England and South Africa. Each team will play three group games, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Semi Finals.
Teams
India
Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
India come into the tournament as red hot favourites, with the number one ranked ODI team coming off a 3-0 thrashing of England leading into the tournament. India have won 15 of their last 20 ODI matches, including a 10 game winning streak at the 2023 World Cup, before failing in the Final. India have won 6 of their last 8 ODI series, and possess the most powerful batting unit at the tournament, as well as a bowling attack that will trouble a lot of teams in these conditions.
Australia
Squad: Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly (reserve)
Steve Smith leads a vastly inexperienced Australian side, with only five players that featured in the 2023 World Cup Final. With no Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood or Stoinis Australia has had to make plenty of late changes, going with youth as they look to revitalise the one day side for the 2027 World Cup. Australia’s youngsters have struggled in their last two series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which doesn’t bode much confidence. Unless Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa have stellar performances, it’s going to be tough for Australia to go far in this tournament.
England
Squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
Brendon McCullum’s start to his reign of the white ball set up in England hasn’t got off to a great start, with a 4-1 loss in the T20I series and 3-0 loss in the ODI series against India. England have lost four consecutive ODI series leading into this tournament, and have won only 3 of their last 12 ODIs. Despite their recent struggles, England do have a batting unit that is capable of producing massive scores, and have had a strong record in Pakistan in recent years.
South Africa
Squad: Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch Kwena Maphaka (reserve)
South Africa have produced quality performances at the last two ICC tournaments, making it to the Final of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Semi Final of the 2023 World Cup. The historical chokers tag will still follow the side until they eventually win a tournament, but South Africa looms as one of India’s biggest challengers. Powerful middle order batting, and a well rounded bowling attack that can produce in sub continent conditions.
Pakistan
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan struggled at the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Cup, failing to progress out of the group stage at both tournaments. However they did win the last Champions Trophy and playing at home should give them a massive boost. Pakistan are currently ranked 3rd in the ICC ODI rankings, and have won 8 of their last 11 ODI matches. The hosts have won five straight bilateral ODI series heading into the tournament, including wins over Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. If their pace attack is in form, they are going to be a serious contender.
New Zealand
Squad: Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy
New Zealand often come into tournaments overlooked or viewed as dark horses, however with their best generation of cricketers retiring or nearing the end of their careers, this tournament looks to be a massive challenge for the BlackCaps. New Zealand’s group stage knockout at last year’s T20 World Cup showed they need to move into a new direction, but they still have plenty of quality in their line up. Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway form an excellent batting unit, but the BlackCaps have an inexperienced bowling attack that could struggle against the best sides at the tournament.
Afghanistan
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran, Darwish Rasooli (reserve) Bilal Sami (reserve)
Get ready for commentators, analysts and journalists to label Afghanistan as a dark horse for the Champions Trophy. The fact of the matter is though, they are a genuine contender in these conditions, as they showed in the 2023 World Cup where they defeated England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They qualified for the Semi Finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup as well, further enhancing their reputation as a genuine cricketing nation. Afghanistan have won four straight ODI series, including a win over South Africa, and have won 8 of their last 10 completed matches in the format. Given they are in a group with Australia and England who are desperately out of form, there is a very real prospect of Afghanistan finding their way into the Semi Finals.
Bangladesh
Squad: Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
Bangladesh are the only team that come into this tournament with no real prospects and having lost five of their last six ODI series. Bangladesh’s best finish at a World Cup was the Quarter Finals in 2015, whilst the Super 8 of the 2027 T20 World Cup was their best finish in the shortest format. They did qualify for the Semi Finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy, however that was due to two of Australia’s three games being washed out, as Bangladesh progressed winning just one group game. Bangladesh won just two games at the 2023 World Cup, qualifying for the Champions trophy on Net Run Rate. It would be a major shock if they progressed out of the group stage.
Tournament Winners
This tournament is set up perfectly for India to win, not having to play in Pakistan, and playing at the same venue for every game. They have the deepest squad at the Champions Trophy, with a powerful batting line up that will be nearly impossible to stop. Even without Jasprit Bumrah their bowling attack is of high quality, and their spinners will definitely impact on spin friendly surfaces in Dubai. The number one ranked ODI side in the world should win the tournament without many problems.
Value Option
If you're looking for some more value than what India is providing, South Africa winning the tournament is a good option. South Africa have shown over the last two years in ICC tournaments that they have the capacity to play in these conditions, with their powerful middle order capable of ripping away games from any side.
