Forward of the ICC Champions Trophy – reside on Sky Sports activities from February 19 to March 9 – we have a look at the edges in Group A: India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
India
by David Currie
Finest outcome: Winners (2002, 2013)
2017 outcome: Runners-up
Head coach: Gautam Gambhir
Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), 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 Chakaravarthy.
Rohit Sharma will captain event favourites India on the ICC Champions Trophy
Bowler to look at
England can communicate to the skillset of late-blooming leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy after the 33-year-old took a staggering 14 wickets throughout their current five-match T20 collection. That stated, he solely made his ODI debut earlier this month, additionally towards Jos Buttler’s facet.
However, denied the companies of the world’s greatest bowler proper now, Jasprit Bumrah – a late withdrawal attributable to a again damage – India want seamers Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh to fill the void.
They’ve fairly the pedigree: Shami was main wicket-taker on the 2023 50-over World Cup and Arshdeep the identical as India received the 2024 T20 World Cup, whereas Harshit’s 19 wickets helped Kolkata Knight Riders to final 12 months’s IPL title. However give me the left-arm number of Arshdeep to prime the lot.
India’s Shubman Gill averages 60.16 throughout his 50 one-day internationals
Batter to look at
Skipper Rohit Sharma performed himself again into some kind with a thirty second ODI century within the current 3-0 whitewash of England. Virat Kohli, too, seemed extra like himself with a closing half-century, whereas Shreyas Iyer averaged within the 60s – however there isn’t any trying past Shubman Gill.
The 25-year-old has lengthy been touted as India’s subsequent cricketing celebrity. His batting expertise has not persistently translated to the Check area simply but, however he averages over 60 by his first 50 ODIs, together with his seventh ton closing out the collection towards England (after two fifties).
Prospects
The build-up to the event, being held in Pakistan, has been dominated by the tense political relations between the 2 nations, which has resulted within the UAE being added as co-hosts for India video games – on the specter of a attainable boycott.
India are grouped with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh
It can you should definitely add just a little bit of additional spice to the groups’ assembly in Dubai on February 23, with the match more likely to decide the destiny of the group. India, with all their energy in depth, actually begin as favourites – and never only for that fixture, however the event as a complete.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs Bangladesh (Thursday February 20)
vs Pakistan (Sunday February 23)
vs New Zealand (Sunday March 2)
New Zealand
By David Currie
Finest outcome: Winners (2000)
2017 outcome: Knocked out in group stage
Head coach: Gary Stead
Squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Younger.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson might be key to the Black Caps’ possibilities of success within the Champions Trophy
Bowler to look at
It’s unusual to be coming into into a serious ICC event with a New Zealand facet sans the deadly seam-bowling duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, a mainstay of the assault over the past decade and a half.
With each now retired from worldwide cricket, the baton is being handed over, and with fairly the crowded cluster of contenders prepared to take it on, together with Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.
The latter two impressed immensely throughout England’s Check tour of New Zealand late final 12 months, with Henry‘s 15 wickets at 23.26 the standout, though the quick bowler will likely be disenchanted on the absence of Zak Crawley from England’s ODI set-up ought to the 2 groups meet – he picked up the opener six instances in six through the Check collection whereas coughing up solely 10 whole runs to him.
Henry is simply as expert within the white-ball area too, taking 14 wickets in solely 5 ODIs already this 12 months.
New Zealand’s Matt Henry (proper) types a part of a robust tempo assault
Batter to look at
I may save myself (and all of you studying) a while right here by merely deciding on the batting brilliance of Kane Williamson, his 14 ODI lots of and 49.54 common. However that might be too straightforward.
As a substitute, I’m choosing Rachin Ravindra to proceed saying himself on the world stage. When he smashed England’s bowlers to all elements to open the 2023 World Cup in India with a maiden ODI century, he might not have been on many individuals’s radars, however that’s actually not the case two years on.
Because the Kiwis metal themselves for all times past Williamson, 34, it’s the elegant, but devastating strokeplay of the left-handed Ravindra who they’ll absolutely construct the foundations round. One other robust displaying on the subcontinent will additional cement that.
Will New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra dazzle within the subcontinent once more?
Prospects
The cliched event ‘darkish horses’ have morphed into perennial bridesmaids, with runners-up finishes on the 2015 and 2019 50-over World Cups (in addition to the 2021 T20 World Cup), together with 10 additional semi-final runs throughout these two tournaments.
The Black Caps’ one earlier ICC world title got here on the Champions Trophy in 2000, the identical 12 months the New Zealand girls’s facet received the 50-over World Cup. The White Ferns broke their very own 24-year main event drought with a shocking victory on the T20 World Cup in October, now it’s over to Mitchell Santner’s facet to safe a double.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs Pakistan (Wednesday February 19)
vs Bangladesh (Monday February 24)
vs India (Sunday March 2)
Pakistan
By Um-E-Aymen Babar
Finest outcome: Winners (2017)
Head coach: Aqib Javed
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), 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.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan scored a century towards South Africa on February 12
Bowler to look at
Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left-arm fast has grabbed 124 wickets in 60 ODIs and is the one seamer within the prime 5 of the ODI bowling rankings. Shaheen can change the tempo of matches by rattling by the highest and center orders of even the very best opposition and may thrive on his residence turf on this event.
Batter to look at
Former captain Babar Azam sits prime of the ODI batting rankings and averages 55.78 within the 50-over format, with 19 centuries and 34 fifties from 122 video games. Babar’s kind has not been constant all through the codecs of late, however being in acquainted territory might assist him.
Prospects
Pakistan – at all times unpredictable in ICC tournaments – kick-off their marketing campaign towards New Zealand. Nonetheless, the most important take a look at will come after they face India, not solely their greatest rivals however the group to beat within the competitors. The hosts have damage considerations over star bowler Haris Rauf, whose loss of life bowling is commonly essential.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam tops the ODI batting rankings
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs New Zealand (Wednesday February 19)
vs India (Sunday February 23)
vs Bangladesh (Thursday February 27)
Bangladesh
By Um-E-Aymen Babar
Finest outcome: Semi-finals (2017)
Head coach: Phil Simmons
Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
Bowler to look at
Nahid Rana. The correct-arm fast, 22, has made an impression since debuting final 12 months. His uncooked tempo and expertise helped Bangladesh safe a 2-0 whitewash over Pakistan in a Check collection the place he averaged 90mph. Enjoying on an enormous stage might convey nerves however, when within the zone, Rana could be good.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will likely be vital for Bangladesh as captain and batter
Batter to look at
Najmul Hossain Shanto. A trendy left-hander who averages 34.60 within the ODI format, with a greatest rating of 122 not out. Nonetheless, Shanto has not been in kind just lately and might want to step as much as the problem.
Prospects
Bangladesh have their hardest problem first after they face India. If they’re able to produce a efficiency they’re pleased with, whatever the outcome, it’s going to ease them into the next fixtures towards New Zealand and Pakistan. They managed to make it to the semi-finals in 2017 which is able to give them hope.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs India (Thursday February 20)
vs New Zealand (Monday February 24)
vs Pakistan (Thursday February 27)
Watch each match from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy reside on Sky Sports activities between February 19 and March 9 or stream with NOW.
