The anticipation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is at an all-time high, and cricketing legends Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri have weighed in on their predictions for the finalists.
While both stalwarts agree on the two teams most likely to compete in the grand finale, they also believe that the home advantage could play a crucial role for Pakistan.
In an insightful discussion with Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, Ponting and Shastri identified India and Australia as the frontrunners for the ICC Champions Trophy final. Their predictions are based on the teams’ recent track records in global tournaments and their formidable lineups, packed with star players.
Shastri further suggested that England and South Africa could be strong contenders for the semi-finals. However, he remained confident that the two finalists from the 2023 Cricket World Cup—India and Australia—are best positioned to dominate the Champions Trophy.
Ponting echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s hard to go past India and Australia again. Just look at the quality of players in both teams and their performances in recent ICC events. When big finals come around, these two sides always seem to be there.”
Both India and Australia have a rich history in the Champions Trophy, having won the tournament twice each—India in 2002 and 2013, and Australia in 2006 and 2009. With their hunger for ICC glory, both teams will be eager to add another title to their collection.
However, Ponting added a third team to the mix, acknowledging the strong potential of hosts Pakistan. “The other team playing some really good cricket at the moment is Pakistan,” he said. “Their one-day performances in recent times have been exceptional. While they haven’t always been the most predictable team in ICC tournaments, they seem to have found a balance and are capable of making a deep run in the Champions Trophy.”
Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan enters the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy with momentum, having secured ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa. Their triumph in the 2017 Champions Trophy remains a defining moment, where they stunned India in the final, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s century and a blistering bowling performance.
As defending champions, Pakistan will be motivated to replicate their success on home soil. They will face arch-rivals India in a much-anticipated group-stage encounter in Dubai on February 23.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to commence on February 19 in Karachi, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the opening match. The grand finale will take place on March 9, where the ultimate champions of the tournament will be crowned.