ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Everything You Need to Know

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be one of the most thrilling cricket tournaments of the decade. With 8 elite teams battling for glory, fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the action-packed matches. This article covers everything you need to know about the tournament, including team details, head-to-head records, highest scores, and more. Let’s dive into the excitement!

What is the Champions Trophy?

The ICC Champions Trophy is a prestigious international cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Often referred to as the “Mini World Cup,” it features the top-ranked teams in the world competing in a fast-paced, high-stakes format. The 2025 edition promises to deliver unforgettable moments and fierce competition.

Teams Participating in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The tournament will feature 8 teams, including the top-ranked ODI sides and qualifiers. Here’s the confirmed list:

 ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Qualifiers For ODI:

Team	ICC Ranking (ODI)
India	1
Australia	2
Pakistan	3
New Zealand	4
South Africa	5
England	7
Afghanistan	8
Bangladesh	9

ICC Cricket Rankings for ODIs:

Position	Team	Matches	Points	Rating
1	India	48	5726	119
2	Australia	44	4826	110
3	Pakistan	38	4122	108
4	New Zealand	41	4256	104
5	South Africa	41	4091	100
6	Sri Lanka	60	5954	99
7	England	39	3569	92
8	Afghanistan	39	3365	86
9	Bangladesh	46	3730	81
10	West Indies	41	3185	78
11	Ireland	27	1413	52
12	Scotland	31	1586	51
13	Zimbabwe	31	1586	51
14	Netherlands	42	1763	42
15	Canada	17	562	33
16	U.S.A.	35	1124	32
17	Oman	34	1058	31
18	Nepal	41	1077	26
19	Namibia	32	749	23
20	U.A.E.	38	393	10

ICC Champions Trophy Winners List

Here’s a look at the past winners of the ICC Champions Trophy:

Year	Winner	Runner-Up
1998	South Africa	West Indies
2000	New Zealand	India
2004	West Indies	England
2006	Australia	West Indies
2009	Australia	New Zealand
2013	India	England
2017	Pakistan	India
2025	?	?

Head-to-Head Records

Here’s a comparison of head-to-head records between the top teams in the Champions Trophy:

Teams	Matches Played	Team A Wins	Team B Wins	Tied/NR
India vs Pakistan	5	3	2	0
Australia vs England	6	4	2	0
South Africa vs NZ	4	2	2	0
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh	3	2	1	0

Top 10 Highest Team Totals in ICC Champions Trophy History

The tournament has witnessed some breathtaking performances. Here are the highest team scores:

Team	Score	Opponent	Venue	Year
New Zealand	347/4	USA	The Oval	10 Sep 2004
Pakistan	338/4	India	The Oval	18 Jun 2017
India	331/7	South Africa	Cardiff	6 Jun 2013
England	323/8	South Africa	Centurion	27 Sep 2009
Sri Lanka	322/3	India	The Oval	8 Jun 2017
India	321/6	Sri Lanka	The Oval	8 Jun 2017
New Zealand	320/5	Pakistan	National Stadium, Karachi	19 Feb 2025
India	319/3	Pakistan	Birmingham	4 Jun 2017
Sri Lanka	319/8	South Africa	Centurion	22 Sep 2009
South Africa	316/5	South Africa	Colombo (RPS)	20 Sep 2002

Venues and Schedule

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be hosted across multiple iconic stadiums. The final is scheduled to take place at the Lahore, Punjab, ensuring a grand finish to the tournament.

Why Champions Trophy 2025 is a Must-Watch

1. High-Octane Matches: With only 8 teams, every game is crucial.
2. Rivalries Renewed: India vs Pakistan, Australia vs England, and more.
3. Emerging Stars: Young talents will shine on the global stage.
4. ICC Legacy: A tournament that has given us unforgettable moments.

Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule

The Champions Trophy 2025 will feature a total of 15 matches, including the semi-finals and the final. The tournament will follow a round-robin format in the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout rounds. Below is the detailed schedule:

Group Stage

Group A: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B: Australia, South Africa, England, Afghanistan

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Feb 19, 2025	New Zealand vs Pakistan	Karachi	2:00 PM
Feb 20, 2025	India vs Bangladesh	Dubai (DICS)	2:00 PM
Feb 21, 2025	South Africa vs Afghanistan	Karachi	2:00 PM
Feb 22, 2025	Australia vs England	Lahore	2:00 PM
Feb 23, 2025	India vs Pakistan	Dubai (DICS)	2:00 PM
Feb 24, 2025	New Zealand vs Bangladesh	Rawalpindi	2:00 PM
Feb 25, 2025	South Africa vs Australia	Rawalpindi	2:00 PM
Feb 26, 2025	England vs Afghanistan	Lahore	2:00 PM
Feb 27, 2025	Pakistan vs Bangladesh	Rawalpindi	2:00 PM
Feb 28, 2025	Afghanistan vs Australia	Lahore	2:00 PM
Mar 01, 2025	South Africa vs England	Karachi	2:00 PM
Mar 02, 2025	India vs New Zealand	Dubai (DICS)	2:00 PM

Knockout Stage

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Mar 04, 2025	Semi-Final 1 (Group A 1st vs Group B 2nd)	Dubai (DICS)	2:00 PM
Mar 05, 2025	Semi-Final 2 (Group B 1st vs Group A 2nd)	Lahore	2:00 PM
Mar 09, 2025	Final	Lahore	2:00 PM

Key Highlights of the Schedule

1. Blockbuster Opener: The tournament kicks off with the high-voltage clash between New Zealand and Pakistan on February 19, 2025, at the iconic Karachi.
2. Rivalry Matches:
   • India vs Pakistan on February 23, 2025.
   • Australia vs England on February 22, 2025.
   • Australia vs South Africa on February 25, 2025
3. Semi-Finals: The top two teams from each group will battle it out for a spot in the final.
4. Grand Finale: The final will be held on March 09, 2025, at the Lahore, promising a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.

Venues for Champions Trophy 2025

The tournament will be hosted across four world-class stadiums in India:

1. 1. Karachi (Capacity: 34,238)
   2. Dubai (DICS) (Capacity: 25,000)
   3. Lahore (Capacity: 34,000)
   4. Rawalpindi (Capacity: 20,000)

How to Watch Champions Trophy 2025

• TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (India), Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa).
• Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar (India), Willow TV (USA), ICC TV (Global).

Why This Schedule is Exciting

• Short and Intense: The tournament is compact, ensuring every match is high-stakes.
• Prime Time Matches: All games are scheduled at 2:00 PM IST, making it convenient for fans across the globe.
• Iconic Venues: The matches will be played at some of the most historic cricket grounds in the world.

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of All Teams

The CT 2025 will feature the best cricketers from around the world, representing their nations in this prestigious tournament. Below are the official squads for all 8 participating teams. These squads are packed with star players, emerging talents, and match-winners who are ready to light up the tournament.

1-India Squad

India, the top-ranked ODI team, has a balanced squad with a mix of experienced players and young guns.

Player	Role
Rohit Sharma (c)	Batsman
Virat Kohli	Batsman
Shubman Gill	Batsman
Shreyas Iyer	Batsman
KL Rahul	Wicketkeeper
Rishabh Pant	Wicketkeeper
Hardik Pandya	All-rounder
Ravindra Jadeja	All-rounder
Axar Patel	All-rounder
Washington Sundar	All-rounder
Mohammed Shami	Bowler
Kuldeep Yadav	Bowler
Arshdeep Singh	Bowler
Harshit Rana	Bowler
Varun Chakravarthy	Bowler

2-Australia Squad

Australia, known for their aggressive cricket, has a strong squad with a perfect blend of youth and experience.

Player	Role
Steve Smith (c)	Batsman
Jake Fraser-McGurk	Batsman
Travis Head	Batsman
Glenn Maxwell	All-rounder
Josh Inglis	Wicketkeeper
Marnus Labuschagne	Batsman
Alex Carey	Wicketkeeper
Matthew Short	Batsman
Sean Abbott	All-rounder
Aaron Hardie	All-rounder
Ben Dwarshuis	Bowler
Spencer Johnson	Bowler
Tanveer Sangha	Bowler
Nathan Ellis	Bowler
Adam Zampa	Bowler

3-Pakistan Squad

Pakistan, the defending champions, have a dynamic squad with a strong bowling attack.

Player	Role
Mohammad Rizwan (c)	Wicketkeeper
Babar Azam	Batsman
Fakhar Zaman	Batsman
Saud Shakeel	Batsman
Tayyab Tahir	Batsman
Usman Khan	Wicketkeeper
Shaheen Afridi	Bowler
Haris Rauf	Bowler
Naseem Shah	Bowler
Salman Agha	All-rounder
Mohammad Hasnain	Bowler
Abrar Ahmed	Bowler
Faheem Ashraf	All-rounder
Kamran Ghulam	All-rounder
Khushdil Shah	All-rounder

4-South Africa Squad

South Africa boasts a squad with explosive batsmen and a lethal pace attack.

Player	Role
Temba Bavuma (c)	Batsman
Tony de Zorzi	Batsman
Aiden Markram	All-rounder
Rassie van der Dussen	Batsman
David Miller	Batsman
Heinrich Klaasen	Wicketkeeper
Marco Jansen	All-rounder
Ryan Rickelton	Batsman
Kagiso Rabada	Bowler
Tabraiz Shamsi	Bowler
Keshav Maharaj	Bowler
Lungi Ngidi	Bowler
Tristan Stubbs	Batsman
Wiaan Mulder	All-rounder
Corbin Bosch	All-rounder

5-England Squad

England, the 2019 World Cup champions, have a power-packed squad with aggressive players.

Player	Role
Jos Buttler (c)	Wicketkeeper
Tom Banton	Wicketkeeper
Joe Root	Batsman
Ben Duckett	Batsman
Harry Brook	Batsman
Liam Livingstone	All-rounder
Phil Salt	Wicketkeeper
Jamie Smith	Batsman
Brydon Carse	All-rounder
Jamie Overton	All-rounder
Mark Wood	Bowler
Adil Rashid	Bowler
Jofra Archer	Bowler
Saqib Mahmood	Bowler
Gus Atkinson	Bowler

6-New Zealand Squad

New Zealand, known for their consistency, has a well-rounded squad.

Player	Role
Kane Williamson	Batsman
Devon Conway	Wicketkeeper
Tom Latham	Wicketkeeper
Daryl Mitchell	All-rounder
Glenn Phillips	All-rounder
Mitchell Santner (c)	All-rounder
Will Young	Batsman
Rachin Ravindra	All-rounder
Jacob Duffy	Bowler
Will O’Rourke	Bowler
Matt Henry	Bowler
Michael Bracewell	All-rounder
Mark Chapman	All-rounder
Nathan Smith	All-rounder

7-Afghanistan Squad

Afghanistan Squad, a team on the rise, has a mix of experienced players and young talents.

Player	Role
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)	Batsman
Ibrahim Zadran	Batsman
Ikram Alikhil	Wicketkeeper
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	Wicketkeeper
Sediqullah Atal	Batsman
Rahmat Shah (vc)	All-rounder
Azmatullah Omarzai	All-rounder
Gulbadin Naib	All-rounder
Mohammad Nabi	All-rounder
Nangeyalia Kharote	All-rounder
Rashid Khan	All-rounder
Fareed Ahmad	Bowler
Fazalhaq Farooqi	Bowler
Naveed Zadran	Bowler
Noor Ahmad	Bowler

8-Bangladesh Squad

Bangladesh, a team known for their fighting spirit, has a squad full of potential match-winners.

Player	Role
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)	Batsman
Jaker Ali	Wicketkeeper
Mushfiqur Rahim	Wicketkeeper
Parvez Hossain Emon	Wicketkeeper
Tanzid Hasan	Batsman
Towhid Hridoy	Batsman
Mahmudullah	All-rounder
Mehidy Hasan Miraz	All-rounder
Nasum Ahmed	All-rounder
Mustafizur Rahman	Bowler
Rishad Hossain	All-rounder
Soumya Sarkar	All-rounder
Tanzim Hasan Sakib	All-rounder
Nahid Rana	Bowler
Taskin Ahmed	Bowler

Key Players to Watch in 2025

• • India: Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami
  • Australia: Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell
  • Pakistan: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi
  • England: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt
  • South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen, Kagiso Rabada
  • New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner

Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table

The Champions Trophy 2025 will follow a round-robin format in the group stage, with each team playing three matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. Below is the live points table for the tournament (updated as of the latest matches):

 

Group A Points Table

Team	Matches Played	Won	Lost	Tied/NR	Net Run Rate (NRR)	Points
India	0	0	0	0	0	0
New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pakistan	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bangladesh	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group B Points Table

Team	Matches Played	Won	Lost	Tied/NR	Net Run Rate (NRR)	Points
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Africa	0	0	0	0	0	0
England	0	0	0	0	0	0
Afghanistan	0	0	0	0	0	0

Semi-Final Qualifiers

• Group A: ??
• Group B: ??

Champions Trophy 2017 Points Table

For comparison, here’s a look back at the 2017 Champions Trophy points table, which followed a similar format.

Group A Points Table (2017)

Team	Matches Played	Won	Lost	Tied/NR	Net Run Rate (NRR)	Points
England	3	3	0	0	+1.05	6
Bangladesh	3	1	1	1	0.00	3
Australia	3	0	1	2	-0.99	2
New Zealand	3	0	2	1	-1.05	1

Group B Points Table (2017)

Team	Matches Played	Won	Lost	Tied/NR	Net Run Rate (NRR)	Points
India	3	2	1	0	+1.37	4
Pakistan	3	2	1	0	-0.68	4
South Africa	3	1	2	0	+0.16	2
Sri Lanka	3	1	2	0	-0.80	2

Semi-Final Qualifiers (2017)

• Group A: England, Bangladesh
• Group B: India, Pakistan

Comparison Between 2017 and 2025

1. Dominance of Teams:
   • In 2017, England dominated Group A, while India and Pakistan were strong in Group B.
   • In 2025, ?.
2. Surprise Packages:
   • 2017: Bangladesh surprised everyone by qualifying for the semi-finals.
   • 2025: ?.
3. Net Run Rate (NRR):
   • Teams in 2025 are focusing more on NRR.

List of Injured Players in Champions Trophy 2025

Injuries are an unfortunate part of any high-intensity tournament like the Champions Trophy 2025. Several key players have been ruled out or are under injury scrutiny, which could impact their team’s performance. Below is the updated list of injured players and their status for the tournament.

1. India

• • Jasprit Bumrah: Suffered a back strain during practice. Ruled out for the entire tournament.
    Replacement: Harshit Rana
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal: Fully fit but not selected.
    Replacement: Shubman Gill (vc)

2. Australia

• • Mitchell Marsh: Injured his ankle during a training session. Replacement: Matthew Short
  • Marcus Stoinis: Injured Replacement: Aaron Hardie
  • Pat Cummins: Suffered a hamstring tear. Ruled out for the entire tournament. Replacement:  Ben Dwarshuis
  • Josh Hazlewood: Injured. Replacement:  Spencer Johnson
  • Mitchell Starc: Suffered a hamstring tear. Ruled out for the entire tournament. Replacement: Nathan Ellis

3. Pakistan

• • None

4. South Africa

• • Anrich Nortje: Suffered a stress fracture in his back. Ruled out for the entire tournament.
    Replacement: Lungi Ngidi

5. England

• • Jacob Bethell: Elbow injury flare-up. Ruled out for the entire tournament.
    Replacement: Brydon Carse

6. New Zealand

• • Lockie Ferguson: Twisted his ankle during a warm-up game. Doubtful for the first two matches.
    Replacement: Lockie Ferguson
  • Ben Sears: Mild calf strain. Expected to recover before the second match. Replacement: Nathan Smith

7. Afghanistan

• • AM Ghazanfar: Hamstring injury. Ruled out for the entire tournament.
    Replacement: Fareed Ahmad

8. Bangladesh

• • None

Impact of Injuries on Teams

1. India: Losing Bumrah is a massive blow to their bowling attack.
2. Australia: The absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis weakens their bowling and middle-order firepower.
3. Pakistan: None.
4. South Africa: Nortje’s absence leaves a gap in their pace attack.
5. England: Jacob Bethell’s injury is a significant setback for their bowling unit.
6. New Zealand: Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears absence could affect their bowling stability.
7. Afghanistan: AM Ghazanfar’s injury is a huge loss for their spin department.
8. Bangladesh: None.

Key Replacements to Watch

• Harshit Rana (India): Will lead the pace attack in Bumrah’s absence.
• Aaron Hardie (Australia): A dynamic all-rounder who can fill Mitchell Marsh’s shoes.
• Lungi Ngidi (South Africa): A young pacer with raw pace and potential.
• Fareed Ahmad (Afghanistan): A promising spinner who could step up in Afghanistan absence.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Our Predictions and Analysis

The Champions Trophy 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive tournaments in recent memory. With eight top teams battling it out, predicting the winner is no easy task. However, based on current form, squad strength, and historical performance, here’s an in-depth analysis and prediction for the tournament.

Top Contenders for the Title

1. 1. India
      • Strengths: A balanced squad with world-class batsmen like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and a strong bowling attack led by Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.
      • Weaknesses: The absence of Jasprit Bumrah could hurt their death bowling.
      • Key Player: Virat Kohli – His form will be crucial in high-pressure games.
      • Prediction: Finalists – India’s depth and home advantage make them strong contenders.
   2. Australia
      • Strengths: A powerful batting lineup with Travis Head and Steve Smith, and a versatile bowling attack.
      • Weaknesses: Injuries to Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins could impact their balance.
      • Key Player: Steven Smith – His leadership and batting will be vital.
      • Prediction: Semi-Finalists – Australia’s experience in ICC tournaments makes them a threat.
   3. South Africa
      • Strengths: Explosive batting with Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram, and a lethal pace attack featuring Kagiso Rabada.
      • Weaknesses: Historically, they’ve struggled in knockout games.
      • Key Player: Kagiso Rabada – His ability to take early wickets will be crucial.
      • Prediction: Semi-Finalists – South Africa’s current form makes them a strong contender.
   4. Pakistan
      • Strengths: A strong bowling attack led by Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, and a solid batting lineup with Babar Azam.
      • Weaknesses: Inconsistency in batting and over-reliance on Babar Azam.
      • Key Player: Babar Azam – His consistency will be key to Pakistan’s success.
      • Prediction: Finalists – Pakistan’s ability to perform in ICC tournaments makes them a dark horse.

Dark Horses

1. 1. England

• • • Strengths: A deep batting lineup with Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, and a versatile bowling attack.
    • Weaknesses: Ben Stokes (initially) could affect their balance.
    • Key Player: Jos Buttler – His explosive batting can change the game.
    • Prediction: Quarter-Finalists – England’s aggressive style could take them far, but injuries might hold them back.

1. 2. New Zealand

• • • Strengths: A well-rounded team with Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner.
    • Weaknesses: Injuries to Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears could hurt their chances.
    • Key Player: Matt Henry – His swing bowling will be crucial in Indian conditions.
    • Prediction: Quarter-Finalists – New Zealand’s consistency makes them a threat, but injuries might limit their progress.

Underdogs

1. 1. Sri Lanka

• • Strengths: A young and energetic squad with players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan.
  • Weaknesses: Lack of experience in high-pressure games.
  • Key Player: Mohammad Nabi – His all-round abilities are vital.
  • Prediction: Group Stage Exit – Sri Lanka might struggle against stronger teams.

2. Bangladesh
   • Strengths: A fighting spirit and experienced players like Najmul Hossain Shanto.
   • Weaknesses: Over-reliance on a few key players.
   • Key Player: Mahmudullah – His all-round performance will be crucial.

Prediction: Group Stage Exit – Bangladesh might find it tough to compete against top teams.

Final Prediction

• Final: India vs Pakistan
• Winner: Pakistan

Reasoning:

• India’s strong batting lineup, home advantage, and balanced squad make them the favorites.
• Pakistan’s bowling attack and ability to perform in ICC tournaments make them strong contenders, but India’s depth and experience in high-pressure games give them the edge.

Key Factors That Could Influence the Outcome

1. Home Advantage: Pakistan’s familiarity with the conditions could be a game-changer.
2. Injuries: Teams with fewer injury concerns (like India and South Africa) have a better chance.
3. Form of Key Players: Players like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Jos Buttler, Kane Williamson and Kagiso Rabada will play a crucial role.
4. Knockout Pressure: Teams with a history of performing well in knockouts (like India and Pakistan) have an advantage.

Conclusion

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be a cricketing spectacle like no other. With eight elite teams, world-class players, and high-stakes matches, the tournament promises to deliver unforgettable moments and fierce competition. From the blockbuster opener between India and Pakistan to the thrilling knockout stages, every match will be a battle for supremacy.

India, with their balanced squad and home advantage, are the favorites to lift the trophy, but teams like England, Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia are strong contenders capable of causing upsets. The tournament will also be a platform for emerging talents to shine and for cricketing legends to cement their legacy.

Injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, and Mitchell Marsh have added an element of unpredictability, but their replacements are ready to step up and make an impact. The points table, head-to-head records, and highest scores will keep fans on the edge of their seats as the drama unfolds.

As the cricketing world gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025, one thing is certain: this tournament will be a celebration of the sport, showcasing the passion, skill, and spirit of cricket. Whether you’re a fan of explosive batting, lethal bowling, or nail-biting finishes, the Champions Trophy 2025 has it all.