The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy took place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, highlighting the best of One Day International (ODI) cricket. The edition of CT was held after a long gap from the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. The event featured the top eight teams globally: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) co-hosted the tournament, while India’s matches were moved to the UAE because of political reasons.
Group Stage Highlights
The tournament kicked off with an exciting match between the host team, Pakistan, and New Zealand in Karachi. New Zealand scored a strong total of 320/5, featuring centuries from Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118 *). Pakistan managed to score 260 runs, resulting in a 60-run win for New Zealand.
India started their journey in Dubai against Bangladesh. Bangladesh set a target of 228 runs, thanks to Towhid Hridoy’s century (100). Indian bowler Mohammed Shami took five wickets (5/53), helping to limit Bangladesh’s score. In response, Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 101, leading India to a six-wicket victory.
A memorable match took place between England and Australia, breaking several records. England scored 351/8, with Ben Duckett making a remarkable 165, which was the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history at that time. However, Australia successfully chased the target, finishing at 356/5 with 15 balls remaining. Josh Inglis played a crucial role, scoring 120* off 86 balls, including the fastest century in Champions Trophy history (off 77 balls).
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran made history with an impressive 177 against England, breaking Duckett’s recent record for the highest individual score in the tournament. This outstanding performance was key to Afghanistan’s narrow eight-run victory, marking an important achievement in their cricketing history.
Semi-Finals
In the first semi-final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, India took on Australia. Australia batted first and scored 264 runs, with Steve Smith making an important contribution of 73 runs. India successfully chased the target, thanks to Virat Kohli’s steady 84, winning by six wickets and earning a place in the final.
In the second semi-final, New Zealand played against South Africa. Rachin Ravindra’s impressive century helped New Zealand reach a strong total, which their bowlers defended effectively, securing their spot in the final.
The Final Showdown
The final match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium was an exciting battle between India and New Zealand. New Zealand posted a target of 252, thanks to strong performances from their middle order. India’s response was steady, spearheaded by captain Rohit Sharma, who scored 76 runs. Although they faced some challenges in the middle of their innings, India secured the victory by four wickets, earning their second consecutive global title.
Tournament Reflections
India’s stronghold in white-ball cricket was clear, as they achieved an impressive 23 wins out of 24 ICC matches. However, there were concerns about the fairness of the tournament since all their games were played in spin-friendly Dubai, avoiding tours to Pakistan due to political issues. This sparked discussions about the integrity of the tournament.
New Zealand’s path to the final was admirable, demonstrating both resilience and skill. Although they did not win the final, their performances, especially under Mitchell Santner’s captaincy, earned them respect in the cricket world.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy not only showcased the competitive nature and changing landscape of international cricket but also highlighted the importance of addressing larger issues to maintain the sport’s global integrity and promote fair growth.