THE 9TH ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY - from thrills to upsets

GROUND REALITY

During the fourth match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Ben Duckett scored 165, which was at that moment the highest individual score in the tournament's history. However, during the eighth match, Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran scored 177, thus shattering Duckett’s record. This is the unpredictability factor that arises in high-octane tournaments such as the Champions Trophy.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was anything but predictable—at times spectacular, at other times utterly one-sided. In the opening match of the tournament, co-host, Pakistan - who played against New Zealand in Karachi - lost the match by 60 runs. The Black Caps posted 320 runs in 50 overs. In reply, Pakistan lost all ten wickets for 260 runs in 47.2 overs. This began the downfall for Team Green. Pakistan vs India, the match in every tournament that gets the most hype and attention, was another display of soggy performance from Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan could not even touch the 250-run mark and were all out for 241 in 49.4 overs. India won the match by six wickets in 42.3 overs. Saud Shakeel scored 62 (76) and Mohammad Rizwan managed to score 46 (77) with other batsmen not posting much on the scoreboard. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 (111) and Shreyas Iyer posted 56 (67).

300 plus runs

South Africa were the first team of the 2025 edition to cross the 300-run mark against Afghanistan when they posted a total of 315/6 (50 overs). Afghanistan lost by 107 runs when they were all out in 43.3 overs. South Africa’s opener Ryan Rickelton reached his 103 runs in 106 deliveries while three batsmen - Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram - scored half-centuries.

The talk of the town was the fourth match between England and Australia where both teams scored 350 plus runs. It was a delight for cricket fans to watch a highly competitive match. Australia elected to field first that allowed England to score 351/8 (50 overs). Ben Duckett’s 165 (143) including 17 fours and three sixes were nothing short of an extraordinary innings. Joe Root also added to the total with 68 (78). The stage was set for England to win the match but no team should ever underestimate Australia. Travis Head and Steven Smith did lose their wickets after scoring in single digits, however, opener Matthew Short's 63 (66) gave his team a solid foundation. Marnus Labuschagne scored 47 (45) and Alex Carey added 69 (63). However, Australia's Josh Inglis devastated the English bowing by scoring 120 off 86 along with a fiery knock by Glenn Maxwell who added 32 runs in just 15 deliveries. Fans were expecting Australia to play the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but their journey was cut short by India in the semi-final that India won by 4 wickets.

Upset for England

The eighth match of the tournament was an upset win for Afghanistan, who defeated England by 8 runs. After electing to bat first, Afghanistan posted 325/7 in 50 overs - a total that was never expected to be made by the team. Opener Ibrahim Zadran's 177 along with Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi's 40, 41 and 40 runs respectively helped their team post this total. In reply, the English batsmen Joe Root's 120 (111) gave them a steady groundwork but he received limited support from his teammates, with Ben Duckett scoring 38 and Jos Buttler adding 38 runs. The rest of the batting lineup struggled against Afghanistan's bowling attack, particularly Azmatullah Omarzai, who claimed five wickets for 58 runs.

In this nail-biting finish, England were 313/9 in 48.8 overs. Afghanistan made sure England did not complete the mission and were all out in 49.5 overs.

The two semi-finals were played between Australia and India, and New Zealand and South Africa. India and New Zealand won their respective matches that set the final to be played in Dubai on March 9, 2025.

The final

India played its fifth ICC Champions Trophy final, while New Zealand played its third.. India became champions in 2002 and 2013 while New Zealand emerged champions in 2000. In the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final played on March 9, 2025, India and New Zealand faced each other in the finals of this tournament for the second time. They previously met in the finals of the 2000 edition - the second Champions Trophy – which New Zealand won by 4 wickets.

The finals of the 2025 edition was not a high scoring match as many had predicted. After New Zealand elected to bat first, it posted a modest total of 251 in 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell scored half centuries by scoring 63 and 53. Indian opener and captain, Rohit Sharma, struck 76 (83) to give his team a steady start. India won its third ICC Champions Trophy by winning the finals by 4 wickets in 49 overs.

Player of the tournament

Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand earned the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 263 runs in 4 innings. He also scored two centuries and took three wickets. He was also named Player of the Match against South Africa in the second semi-finals. He scored 108 (101) and also took a wicket.

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