India as Favourites, England amongst the most unlikely to win the Champions Trophy 2025

The first ICC Champions Trophy after 2017 is ready to roll today, as all the teams look ready to make a mark in the mini world cup. This could be a revival of the ODI format and provide a storyboard of the future of ODIs.

Roshan Horo

The ICC Champions Trophy is all set to begin today. The cricketing world has its eyes awaiting for the champion event. It is bound to be as the event is going to be hosted for the first time ever after 2017 and Pakistan will host an ICC tournament after almost three decades. Amidst the rapid increase in the much shorter format and various leagues around the world and widening gap between the top tier test playing nations with the rest, the ODIs have become a rare event. However, this could prove to be the revival of the longer version of the white ball cricket.

The influence of T20 cricket is not hidden from anyone. Teams targeting 350 plus scores every match and even looking to chase down anything below the same target, newer generations’ approach and obviously better bats, conditions and rules aid the batters. Nevertheless, bowlers have the mettle to prove against the challenges is one thing that has never changed yet today. Hence, the bowlers have made an important contribution in keeping alive the 50 overs format. Even though most of the top rated pacers are unavailable for the tournament and a few seem rather uncooked going into the tournament. Also not to forget, the spinners will play a vital role even though plenty of runs are to be expected in the tournament.

The challenge of adapting personal gaming style to the needs of the team, pulling the accelerator up and down, to be able to maintain the balance for a longer period and also the struggle to change the tide in crunch situations are the ingredients that make the ODIs delicious. Changing from the innings building 250 to 300 target games not long before a decade and a half ago to powerful batters relying on boundary hitting, to banging every ball over the boundaries after the T20 rise to adapting to a style needed to score enough to keep the target away from a blistering short burst of batting and a chance to bounce back even after periodic failures. The style of balancing with high acceleration with a foundation of holding the innings together is the feature of successful ODI sides currently. 

The style is most suited to the current setup of the Indian team. Hence, the success of the team in the format is outstanding. Even then, the current Indian team is shaped up, for the tournament especially, to ploy the tactic of outbatting the opposition and to choke and trap the stronger batting sides with spin. But if need arises, the likes of Virat, Rahul and Jadeja, to an extent, will look to steer past any unpredicted desert storm. Virat and Rohit are white ball legends, so is Shami. Team India looks a solid side to qualify from their group.

The other seat will have to be fought between Pakistan and New Zealand. Though, no teams can be taken lightly as it is the tournament of champion teams. I think New Zealand has batters to construct their innings in difficult conditions than most other teams in the tournament. Playing in UAE could have given them an edge over many teams. That said, Indians have to be aware of the threat they pose in ICC events. On the other hand Pakistan is ever unpredictable and can, who knows, book a spot in the final. 

Group B is more staked with the armies to dive into a bloodbath to qualify. Afghanistan may be the newer team but nobody is discounting them. In fact they can be favourites to qualify for the semis. The only concern is that they have to be consistent with their batting as the pitches in Pakistan are expected to be flat. The English, more so after their recent performance in India, look adamant in their strategy, which might be helpful in run feasts. But their bowlers will also offer the opposition to match the run scoring, unless Archer gets back into his full rhythm. South Africans do have a good batting squad but might struggle with containing runs and might fail to get past the line in gritty matches. The strongest case, though, will be made by Australia in the group. Even though the frontliner pacers are unavailable, Australians with their unending supply of the pace attack, fighting spirit and record in big tournaments is force to reckon. Do not forget the bashers in the batting with the grit of their captain Steve Smith, Labuschagne and Carey. 

The ICC Champions Trophy is going to be a great spectacle whatsoever. This might prove to be a revival of the one day format. Because, even in the hustling lifestyle, enthusiasts bet on witnessing class, grit and dedication. This is the format, shorter than the tests, which separates the best from the rest. 

And to wrap it up, I would bet on India from Group A and Australia from Group B to qualify. I believe New Zealand should make it from group A and hope to see Afghanistan qualify. Yet again, with the predictions, I give the disclaimer that no team can be written off, I would be surprised to see either Bangladesh or England in the final. I would wish for yet another India versus Pakistan final, but would not be disappointed to settle for an India versus Australia, with India being my favourites.