Top teams to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The top eight teams in the format are set to revive the ICC Champions Trophy after a wait of eight years. The action is slated to start on 19 February in Pakistan, at the home of the defending champions. The marquee tournament brings back the focus on ODIs after an extended wait since the 2023 ODI World Cup. With just a few days left for the tournament to hit the floor, the participating teams have completed their respective ODI series. The India vs England series, the Pakistan ODI tri-series, and the Sri Lanka vs Australia ODIs have indicated their respective standings in the format ahead of the ICC tournament. Featuring just 15 matches, the clash is set to be a thrilling one, as even a single loss could virtually rule out a team from trophy contention.

ICC Champions Trophy: Favorites in the race for the trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy, undoubtedly an exciting tournament, has been marred by key absences. While most of the players are ruled out due to injuries, some choices have been made for personal reasons. Australia has taken the major hit with the entirety of their primary pace order ruled out. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh are out with different injuries. Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, has opted out due to personal reasons, and Marcus Stoinis has announced an immediate retirement from the format. India will be without their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is yet to recover from his back injury. Other absentees include Pakistan's Saim Ayub, South Africa's Anrich Nortje, and Afghanistan's Allah Ghazanfar, among others.

India

The three-match India vs England ODI series has put up a pretty picture of the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy. The batting order comes up as the most promising aspect of their campaign, with multiple prospects regaining their form at just the right time. The vice-captain, Shubman Gill, and middle-order pick Shreyas Iyer emerged as the top performers in the series. Moreover, skipper Rohit Sharma hit an impressive century in Cuttack as he roared his arrival on the scene. Additionally, things took an upward turn when Virat Kohli finally returned to the league of runs with a half-century in the final ODI.

What also works in favor of India is the form of their seasoned all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja. In the series where pacers blew hot and cold, Jadeja picked crucial wickets in both the matches that he got to play. A reliable batting option as well, Jadeja also brings the left-handed edge to the order, which is a significant part of Gambhir's plans. Now, the only doubt looming over the team's abilities lies in the pace department. Bumrah's absence will be a deep void to fill, and India's picks to fill it seem to be falling short.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh have collectively played just 12 ODIs in their careers so far. Mohammed Shami has failed to impress on his return to the game after over a year. Moreover, with the fixtures scheduled in Dubai, India's plan of carrying five spinners in their 15-member squad could backfire. Nonetheless, with Australia hampered way beyond, India can fancy their chances if they manage to get past the Kiwis and their arch-rival Pakistan in the group stage.

New Zealand

Always the favorites, rarely near the trophy at the end. But none can deny the firepower that the Kiwis carry in their armor at all times. Playing under their new captain, Mitchell Santner, New Zealand recently won the tri-series, beating the hosts Pakistan in the final. Despite losing Rachin Ravindra, the Kiwis look in a comfortable position to enter the playoffs. Placed in Group A, New Zealand first faces Pakistan in the tournament opener on February 19. Their next matchups will be against Bangladesh and then India. With Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips taking charge, the batting order looks fine with Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, and Kane Williamson lined up. While it is still not clear if Ravindra will play or not, New Zealand can cope with the blow.

Pakistan

The hosts, of course. While Pakistan lost the tri-series at home, their performance in the series looked convincing. Mohammad Rizwan, the team captain, along with Salman Agha, chased down a mammoth total of 352 against South Africa to enter the finals. The batting order took a massive hit when the in-form Saim Ayub was ruled out due to a fractured ankle. However, the lineup still looks poised to do the heavy lifting for the team, with Fakhar Zaman, Rizwan, and Agha in fine form. Despite that, the hosts would hope for their former skipper, Babar Azam, to redeem himself before they launch their campaign. Bowling might pose a threat for the hosts as their primary pacers, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, went for expensive spells in the recently concluded series against New Zealand and South Africa. The competition, meanwhile, will be the most thrilling on February 23, when Pakistan faces off against India in Dubai at the group stage.