Top 5 rising stars to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

We are less than a week away from the start of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and UAE. The tournament gets underway with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19th. 

The Champions Trophy has delivered plenty of superb matches across the years and provided a platform for future stars to have a breakout competition and announce themselves to the world. With that in mind, here’s a look at the top five rising stars to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Top 5 rising stars to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has been an established player in the Indian setup for the past three odd years, but the 2025 Champions Trophy could be that tournament that helps him elevate his career to the next level. Gill played in the 2023 World Cup but was largely overshadowed by the heroics of the other Indian batters. The swashbuckling opener from Punjab has an impressive average of 60.16 and a strike rate over a hundred and heads into the Champions Trophy having won the Player of the Series accolade in the bi-laterals against India. 

2. Harry Brook

Considered by many as the next English superstar for limited overs and Test cricket, the 2025 Champions Trophy offers Harry Brook an opportunity to augment these credentials. Brook averages a meager 36.62 in ODIs, but this tournament could offer a chance to better those numbers. The attacking-minded middle-order batter averages 84.1 while playing in Pakistan, and has scored four hundreds and a triple century in this part of the world in Test cricket. Maybe the 2025 Champions Trophy offers a happy ‘homecoming’ for Harry Brook. 

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

He’s been around in International cricket for the past 5 years or so, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz is still only 23 and has a very promising career ahead of him. Rahmanullah Gurbaz could use the 2025 Champions Trophy as a stepping stone to achieve greater heights in International cricket. Gurbaz has an impressive average of 39.31 in ODI cricket and has, thus far, scored eight hundreds as well. He has been key to Afghanistan’s success against bigger teams in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup and will be key to his side’s chances to be giant killers in this competition. 

4. Glenn Phillips

One of the bright sparks of New Zealand for the past couple of years, Glenn Phillips could hold the key for the Kiwis in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Phillips adds value as a hard-hitting batter, a wily off-spinner and an acrobatic fielder. He is coming off a solid century against Pakistan in the Tri Nations Cup and has a superb average of 128.5 while playing in Pakistan. Having had a good last 12 months or so in International cricket, Glenn Phillips would be hoping to keep it going at the 2025 Champions Trophy. 

5. Tony de Zorzi

South Africa’s new opening batter, Tony de Zorzi would be hoping to set the stage on fire in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He averages 39.25 in ODIs with a strike rate of nearly 100 and could enjoy playing on the fairly placid decks of Pakistan. Tony de Zorzi is coming off a solid SA20 campaign which saw him help his Sunrisers Eastern Cape side to the final. He would be hoping to continue that fine run in the Champions Trophy.