Ricky Ponting picks his finalists for Champions Trophy 2025 

by Sahil Jain
Rohit Sharma, Pat Cummins - 2023 World Cup final

The buzz and anticipation for the Champions Trophy 2025 is building with only a little over two weeks to go. All eight teams have announced their squads (provisional) and preparations are in full swing. 

The eight-team ICC event is returning to international cricket after eight years. India and Australia have been the two most successful teams in the history of the Champions Trophy. The two heavyweights have won it twice each. India won it in 2002 (joint-winners with Sri Lanka) and 2013 while Australia clinched back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2009. India have even finished as runners-up a couple of times.  

Thus, former Australia Ricky Ponting picked India and Australia as his finalists for the upcoming tournament. Ponting who was the captain of Australia both times they won the Champions Trophy added that there is a sense of inevitability around these two teams when it comes to ICC events. India and Australia played the final of the 50-over World Cup as well in 2023.

It’s hard to go past India and Australia again. Just think about the quality of players in both countries right now, and you look back in recent history when these big finals and big ICC events have come around and inevitably Australia and India are there somewhere,” Ricky Ponting was quoted saying on the ICC Review show.

Ponting feels Pakistan could be a contender as well for the Champions Trophy

Pakistan beat South Africa 3-0 in December 2024.
Pakistan beat South Africa 3-0 in December 2024.

Pakistan have been quite consistent in the 50-over format ever since Mohammad Rizwan took over as captain. Their last three ODI series’ were all away from home and they ended up beating Australia (2-1), Zimbabwe (2-1) and South Africa (3-0).  

Thus, Ponting believes even though they are not the most predictable team in the big competitions, they seem to have sorted things out at the moment.  

The other team that is playing some really good cricket at the moment is Pakistan. Their one-day cricket over the last little bit has been absolutely outstanding. We know they’re not always the most predictable team in those big tournaments, but they seem like they’ve sorted things out a little bit,” Ponting added. 

Pakistan won the last Champions Trophy tournament in 2017. They blew hot and cold in the 2023 World Cup, winning four and losing five. In the T20 World Cup 2024, they failed to go past the group stages. 

Thus, Pakistan will be looking for a better show this time around. They are the hosts and will know conditions better than most teams.  

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