
Former Indian cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri made his predictions for the highly anticipated 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE. The Stake brand ambassador believes that India and Australia are likely to lock horns again in the 50-over final after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shastri said that both India and Australia have been playing good cricket in the ODI format from the last couple of years and predicted that both teams are likely to make it to the title clash on March 9.
Apart from the finalists, Ravi Shastri also predicted England and South Africa to finish as semi-finalists in the upcoming Champions Trophy. “I believe the final will be played between India and Australia, as both teams have consistently performed brilliantly in big events. Looking at their past performances, I see these two teams making it to the final,” Shastri said in an ICC review.
“In the semi-finals, South Africa and England could be the teams facing off against each other,” the former cricketer further said.
ICC Champions Trophy Returns After 8 Years
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19. The tournament is coming back after eight years with the defending champions Pakistan being hosts for the first time. However, India are scheduled to play their matches in Dubai. The tournament will feature eight teams, split into two groups of four, battling for a place in the knockout rounds. The final match is scheduled for March 9, 2025.
The first edition of the Champions Trophy (formerly known as ICC Knockout) was hosted by Bangladesh in 1998, where South Africa emerged as inaugural champions. The second edition was played in Kenya in 2000 where New Zealand went on to win their first-ever ICC title. In 2002, the ICC Knockout Trophy was renamed as the ICC Champions Trophy where top eight cricketing nations in the ICC ranking take part in the tournament. Sri Lanka were hosts in 2002 and the trophy was shared between India and Sri Lanka after the final was washed out due to rain.