As the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 rapidly approaches, all eyes are on the teams as they fine-tune their preparations for the prestigious tournament. Several of the key contenders have been in action in recent weeks, participating in white-ball series to build momentum and sharpen their squads. So, how are the teams shaping up?
New Zealand: A Strong Start to Their Campaign
New Zealand has warmed up for the tournament in style, winning the Tri-Nation Series against Pakistan and South Africa. The tournament saw each team play against one another, with hosts Pakistan taking on the Blackcaps in the final. New Zealand emerged victorious, completing a perfect record of three wins from three matches.
Kane Williamson has been in outstanding form, scoring a magnificent century in a successful chase against South Africa after previously notching a fifty in the opening win over Pakistan. Glenn Phillips was also in top form, scoring an unbeaten 106 off just 74 balls in that encounter, while Daryl Mitchell contributed with two half-centuries.
On the Pakistan side, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha each scored centuries in Pakistan’s win over South Africa. Matthew Breetzke also impressed with the bat, making a strong international debut with scores of 150 and 83 in his two innings.
India: Dominant in White-Ball Cricket
In India, the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Champions have been in impressive form during their recent white-ball clashes with England. After a 4-1 victory in the T20 series, India went on to sweep the 50-over format, winning all three encounters.
Shubman Gill was the star of the series, amassing 259 runs at an average of 86.33, including a century in the third ODI. In that match, India posted a formidable 356 runs, going on to defeat England by 142 runs after successfully chasing in the first two games.
Shreyas Iyer also impressed with the bat, while Rohit Sharma’s century in the second ODI may have been the highlight of the series. On the bowling front, Ravindra Jadeja was exceptional, taking six wickets at an average of just over 10 and an economy rate of 3.21, with only Adil Rashid taking more wickets (seven) in the series.
Afghanistan: Building Momentum
Afghanistan has been performing well in their recent ODI encounters. They won a series in Zimbabwe in December and followed it up with a 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh in Sharjah. Afghanistan will be looking to carry this momentum into the Champions Trophy, with their squad eager to make a mark on the global stage.
Bangladesh: Aiming for Improvement
Bangladesh will be hoping to bounce back after a difficult run. After losing 2-1 to Afghanistan, they were handed a 3-0 series defeat by the West Indies in the Caribbean. However, with the Champions Trophy ahead and familiar conditions on the horizon, the Bangladesh team will be determined to improve their performances and push for success in the tournament.
Australia: Struggling with Absentees
Australia, despite missing several key players from their Champions Trophy squad, struggled in their recent series against Sri Lanka, falling to a 2-0 ODI series defeat. While the batters failed to impose themselves across both matches in Colombo, there were some positives for the Australians with Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, and Nathan Ellis all impressing with the ball in the first game. Australia will need to regroup and ensure they are at full strength for the Champions Trophy if they are to compete for the title.
