The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, marking the return of this prestigious ODI tournament after eight years. Hosted by Pakistan and UAE, the competition will feature eight teams battling for the title in a round-robin format.
Defending champions Pakistan will aim to retain their title against strong teams like India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. With the squad finalization deadline closing on February 11, some key players have missed out due to injuries and team strategies.
List of Final Squads
Below are the final squads along with notable changes made before the deadline.
India’s Squad
Players: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Changes:
- Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to a lower back injury and replaced by Harshit Rana.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal was excluded to include an extra spin option, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Australia’s Squad
Players: Steve Smith (c), 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.
Changes:
- Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh were ruled out due to injuries.
- Marcus Stoinis retired from ODI cricket, leading to additional changes.
England’s Squad
Players: Jos Buttler (c), 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.
Bangladesh’s Squad
Players: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
New Zealand’s Squad
Players: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Pakistan’s Squad
Players: Mohammad Rizwan (c), 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.
Afghanistan’s Squad
Players: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Changes:
- Allah Gazanfar was ruled out due to a back injury and replaced by Nangyal Kharoti.
South Africa’s Squad
Players: Temba Bavuma (c), 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.
Changes:
- Anrich Nortje withdrew due to a recurring back injury, and Corbin Bosch replaced him.
Tournament Format and Expectations
The Champions Trophy 2025 will follow a group-stage format, where teams are divided into two groups. Each team will play three matches before the top teams advance to the semi-finals and final. The tournament is expected to showcase high-quality ODI cricket.
Key Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli (India): His experience and consistency make him a key player.
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): Playing in home conditions gives him an added advantage.
- Jos Buttler (England): A destructive batsman capable of changing the game quickly.
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): His spin bowling will be crucial, especially in UAE conditions.
- Steve Smith (Australia): With key players missing, Smith’s leadership will be vital.
Why Champions Trophy 2025 is Important
- Return after 8 years: The last edition was held in 2017.
- Pakistan hosting after decades: A major ICC event returns to Pakistan.
- ODI format revival: A chance for 50-over cricket to shine amid T20 dominance.