KKN Gurugram Desk | The countdown for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has officially begun. The much-anticipated cricket tournament is set to commence on February 19, 2025, in Pakistan. This edition will witness eight top international teams battling for the prestigious title.

However, due to security concerns, India will play its matches in Dubai, and the Indian squad has already reached the UAE for preparations. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team, aiming to clinch another ICC trophy after their recent T20 World Cup triumph.

Champions Trophy 2025: Tournament Format and Group Division

The tournament will follow a structured format with eight teams divided into two groups. Each team will play three group-stage matches, and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

Group A

• India
• Pakistan
• New Zealand
• Bangladesh

Group B

• Afghanistan
• Australia
• England
• South Africa

The opening match of the tournament will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.

Before the tournament kicks off, let’s take a look at the complete squads of all participating teams.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – Complete Team Squads

Group A

India Squad

• Captain: Rohit Sharma
• Shubman Gill
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• KL Rahul
• Rishabh Pant
• Hardik Pandya
• Axar Patel
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Harshit Rana
• Mohammed Shami
• Arshdeep Singh
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Varun Chakravarthy

Pakistan Squad

• Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
• Babar Azam
• Fakhar Zaman
• Kamran Ghulam
• Saud Shakeel
• Tayyab Tahir
• Faheem Ashraf
• Khushdil Shah
• Salman Ali Agha
• Usman Khan
• Abrar Ahmed
• Haris Rauf
• Mohammad Hasnain
• Naseem Shah
• Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand Squad

• Captain: Mitchell Santner
• Michael Bracewell
• Mark Chapman
• Devon Conway
• Lockie Ferguson
• Matt Henry
• Tom Latham
• Daryl Mitchell
• Will O’Rourke
• Glenn Phillips
• Rachin Ravindra
• Nathan Smith
• Kane Williamson
• Will Young
• Jacob Duffy

Bangladesh Squad

• Captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto
• Soumya Sarkar
• Tanzid Hasan
• Towhid Hridoy
• Mushfiqur Rahim
• Mahmudullah
• Jaker Ali Anik
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz
• Rishad Hossain
• Taskin Ahmed
• Mustafizur Rahman
• Parvez Hossain Emon
• Nasum Ahmed
• Tanzim Hasan Sakib
• Nahid Rana

Group B

Afghanistan Squad

• Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
• Ibrahim Zadran
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• Sediqullah Atal
• Rahmat Shah
• Ikram Alikhil
• Gulbadin Naib
• Azmatullah Omarzai
• Mohammad Nabi
• Rashid Khan
• Nangyal Kharoti
• Noor Ahmad
• Fazalhaq Farooqi
• Fareed Malik
• Naveed Zadran
• Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami

Australia Squad

• Captain: Steve Smith
• Sean Abbott
• Alex Carey
• Ben Dwarshuis
• Nathan Ellis
• Jake Fraser-McGurk
• Aaron Hardie
• Travis Head
• Josh Inglis
• Spencer Johnson
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Glenn Maxwell
• Tanveer Sangha
• Matthew Short
• Adam Zampa
• Reserves: Cooper Connolly

England Squad

• Captain: Jos Buttler
• Jofra Archer
• Gus Atkinson
• Tom Banton
• Harry Brook
• Brydon Carse
• Ben Duckett
• Jamie Overton
• Jamie Smith
• Liam Livingstone
• Adil Rashid
• Joe Root
• Saqib Mahmood
• Phil Salt
• Mark Wood

South Africa Squad

• Captain: Temba Bavuma
• Tony de Zorzi
• Marco Jansen
• Heinrich Klaasen
• Keshav Maharaj
• Aiden Markram
• David Miller
• Wiaan Mulder
• Lungi Ngidi
• Kagiso Rabada
• Ryan Rickelton
• Tabraiz Shamsi
• Tristan Stubbs
• Rassie van der Dussen
• Corbin Bosch
• Reserves: Kwena Maphaka

Key Highlights of Champions Trophy 2025

1. India’s Matches to Be Played in Dubai

Due to security concerns, the Indian team will not play in Pakistan. Instead, all of India’s matches will be held in Dubai.

2. Rohit Sharma to Lead Team India

With Rohit Sharma as captain, India will aim to add another ICC trophy to their collection. This could be Virat Kohli’s last ICC event, making it a significant tournament for the Indian squad.

3. Competitive Group Stage Matches

• The India vs Pakistan match will be one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament.
• New Zealand, Australia, and England will also be strong contenders for the title.
• Bangladesh and Afghanistan will look to prove their mettle on the international stage.

4. Format and Match Schedule

• Each team will play three group-stage matches.
• The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
• The final match will be played in Lahore, Pakistan.

Which Teams Have the Best Chance to Win?

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, predictions are already being made about which teams have the best chance to lift the trophy.

India’s Chances

With a balanced squad, strong batting lineup, and experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India is one of the top favorites. However, playing in Dubai instead of Pakistan could be a strategic disadvantage.

Pakistan’s Strengths

As the host nation, Pakistan will have home advantage. With Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, they have a well-rounded team capable of defeating any opponent.

Australia and England: The Contenders

• Australia has a history of performing well in ICC tournaments. Their batting depth and world-class all-rounders make them a strong contender.
• England’s aggressive white-ball approach gives them an edge, especially with players like Buttler, Brook, and Archer.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to be an action-packed tournament with the best teams in the world competing for the title. With intense rivalries, thrilling matches, and top-tier performances expected, cricket fans worldwide are eagerly waiting for the event to kick off.

All eyes will be on India, Pakistan, Australia, and England as they battle it out for the prestigious ICC trophy. The tournament will also provide younger players a chance to showcase their talent on a global stage.

As the countdown to February 19 begins, cricket lovers can expect an unforgettable competition in one of the most thrilling ICC events of the year!