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With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to begin in the 50-over format, India will look to capitalize on their remarkable run in the last major ODI tournament – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – where they remained unbeaten throughout the league stage and knockout rounds before finishing as runners-up. The Men in Blue, fresh off their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, are once again among the top contenders for the coveted Champions Trophy title. However, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly believes that while India is undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the tournament, several other teams will pose a significant challenge in their quest for glory.
Sourav Ganguly indicates teams that can challenge India
Former India captain and ex-Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Ganguly recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming Champions Trophy, analyzing India’s chances and identifying the teams that could challenge them. According to Ganguly, India’s dominance in white-ball cricket makes them one of the tournament favorites, but they will face stiff competition from other strong teams.
“India has won the T20 World Cup. In 2023, India was the runner-up in the 50-over World Cup. In the Champions Trophy, India will be one of the favorites and one of the contenders. How India executes everything will depend on that. India’s white-ball team is very good,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by the India Today.
While acknowledging India’s strengths, Ganguly emphasized that several other teams possess the talent and experience to challenge them. He indicated Australia, England, South Africa and Pakistan as four teams that could stand in India’s way in their bid for another ICC title.
“All the teams in the Champions Trophy are strong. It’s tough to say now. India, Australia, England, and South Africa—many teams are strong. Pakistan is also there, as the tournament is in the subcontinent. It will depend on who plays well at that time,” Ganguly concluded.
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India’s group stage challenges in Champions Trophy 2025
India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. All their group-stage matches will be played in Dubai, a venue where they suffered a defeat to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2021. India’s campaign will begin on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by the high-voltage clash against Pakistan on February 23. Their final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 2.
While India have a dominant World Cup record against Pakistan, their Champions Trophy history tells a different story. In five encounters, Pakistan holds a slight edge with three victories, including the 2017 final. India, on the other hand, won their group-stage clashes in 2013 and 2017. Given the unpredictable nature of the format and the history between the two teams, the upcoming India-Pakistan clash promises to be another high-octane contest.
