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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be one of the most anticipated cricketing events, featuring the world’s top teams battling for supremacy. Scheduled to commence on February 19 in Pakistan, the competition has already generated immense excitement, particularly with the marquee clash between India and Pakistan set to take place on February 23 in Dubai.
While teams are finalizing their preparations, cricket experts and former players have begun sharing their predictions for the tournament, including potential winners, finalists, and standout performers. As the buzz around the tournament intensifies, former Australian World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke has come forward with his insights on key individual performances.
Michael Clarke’s choice for the the leading run scorer
During the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, host Erin Holland asked former Australian captain Clarke about his predictions for the top performers in the Champions Trophy 2025.
When asked about the tournament’s top run-getter, Clarke immediately placed his bet on India’s captain, Rohit Sharma. “Well, I’m saying India is going to win, so I’m going with their captain who’s back in form. I’m going to say Rohit Sharma will be the leading run-scorer in the tournament,” Clarke stated. Acknowledging Rohit’s recent resurgence, he expressed excitement over the veteran batter returning to his best. “Wouldn’t it be great to see him back in wonderful form? It’s good to see him making runs again. Absolutely, I think India needs him for sure,” the 43-year-old added.
Also READ: Australia’s Michael Clarke picks his favourite team to win Champions Trophy 2025
Leading wicket-taker and Player of the Tournament
Clarke’s choice for the leading wicket-taker was England’s express pacer Jofra Archer, despite England not being among the favorites to win the tournament. “Wow, most wickets? Well, when we did the PSL last year, it didn’t spin that much; the wickets were slow. I’m going to go with a fast bowler. I’ll pick Jofra Archer as the leading wicket-taker,” Clarke predicted. While he acknowledged England’s challenges, he backed Archer’s ability to be a game-changer. “I know England might not do that well, but I think he’s a superstar. Jofra is going to be really hard to play, so I’m going to have him as my leading wicket-taker,” Given Pakistan’s history of producing pace-friendly tracks, Clarke believed the conditions could favor quick bowlers.
For the standout performer of the tournament, Clarke chose Australia’s in-form batter, Travis Head. “If it’s between India and Australia, I’m going with Travis Head. His IPL form was phenomenal, his Australian summer Test form was phenomenal, and after a short break in Sri Lanka, he’s ready to go again,” Clarke explained. Despite predicting an Australian defeat in the final, he felt Head’s impact would be undeniable. “I’ll say Travis Head will be the player of the tournament, even if Australia loses the final,” Clarke asserted.
Clarke also highlighted Head’s versatility, particularly with his underrated bowling skills, which could add another dimension to his impact. “He’s got so many gears to his game. His confidence is high, and I think his bowling is underrated. Let’s see if Steve Smith, as captain, uses him in different conditions, because he could pick up some handy wickets too,”
