New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra has shared his thoughts and predictions for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, expressing his belief in an exciting final showdown between New Zealand and Australia. This much-anticipated tournament will take place in Pakistan, culminating with the championship match on March 9.
In an exclusive interview with the ICC, Ravindra was asked to name the two teams he expected to see in the final. While he stopped short of picking between the world No. 1 ODI team, India, and the hosts, Pakistan, Ravindra boldly backed his own team, New Zealand, to make it to the final. He also predicted Australia would be their worthy opponents in what would be an intriguing Trans-Tasman showdown for the prestigious title.
Ravindra acknowledged the immense competition New Zealand would face but expressed his confidence in both teams’ abilities to make it to the final. “It’s always tough to predict the finalists because you want to back your own team,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be there. We’ll take it one game at a time, and there are strong contenders like Australia. They’ve shown their prowess across all formats and are the current holders of the ODI World Cup. So, a final between New Zealand and Australia would be great. But for now, we’ll focus on each game and see how it unfolds.”
The 25-year-old, who was in brilliant form during the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, scoring over 500 runs and helping New Zealand reach the semifinals, is excited about the upcoming Champions Trophy. Ravindra has 945 runs and 18 wickets from 28 ODIs and is eager to represent New Zealand once again on the big stage. “It’s amazing to have the Champions Trophy back after a brief hiatus. The format is fantastic, as every match feels like a knockout game with something important at stake,” Ravindra said.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, to be held from February 19 to March 9, will feature 15 matches across three venues in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, as well as Dubai. New Zealand is in Group A alongside Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia. The tournament will kick off with the opening match between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
New Zealand’s Champions Trophy Schedule:
• Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan – 19 February
• Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan – 24 February
• New Zealand vs India, Dubai – 2 March