Who are the favorites for ICC Champions Trophy 2025?

Pakistan, as the host nation, has home advantage, and experts believe they could be a dangerous side

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Pakistan, is already sparking excitement among cricket fans and experts.

With the world’s top teams competing for glory in the One-Day International (ODI) format, discussions over favourites and predictions are heating up.

According to Dafabet, India are currently the favourites to win the tournament. Their strong performances in limited-overs cricket over the past year, along with a well-balanced squad, make them the top contender. Australia, known for its dominance in ICC events, is also considered a strong favourite.

While India and Australia lead the pack, teams like England and South Africa are also serious contenders. England’s aggressive brand of ODI cricket, combined with its explosive batting lineup, makes them a tough opponent. South Africa, on the other hand, has been consistent in recent white-ball performances and could prove to be a strong force.

Pakistan, as the host nation, has a home advantage, and experts believe they could be a dangerous side, especially with their talented fast-bowling attack. However, their inconsistent form in recent ICC events puts them slightly behind the top favourites.

New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh are seen as potential dark horses in the tournament. While they may not be the leading favourites, they have the potential to cause upsets and challenge the bigger teams.

Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, also known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, has picked Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India as the teams most likely to reach the semi-finals. He is particularly confident about Pakistan’s chances against India, stating:

"I believe Pakistan will beat India on February 23. Both Pakistan and India should ideally meet in the final."

Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri, two cricketing legends, believe India and Australia will once again be the two teams to contest the final. Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, they highlighted that India and Australia’s recent dominance in global tournaments makes them strong favourites to go all the way.

Shastri also named England and South Africa as the other semi-final contenders but backed India and Australia to ultimately make it to the final showdown.

While Pakistan is not a top favourite, Shastri noted that they have gained significant white-ball experience over the past six to eight months and have shown strong performances. This suggests that they could be a surprise package in the tournament.

All eyes are on the teams as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While India and Australia are leading the race, the unpredictable nature of the ODI format means that anything can happen. Cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching as the tournament unfolds in Pakistan.