ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finalists decided

Legendary cricketers Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have picked India and Australia to make it to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Both of them feel that these two teams have enormous talent and have done well in ICC events in recent times.

Both India and Australia are the powerhouses of cricket with some exceptional talents in both nations. The ODI format suits their game style as well. India are the winners of the latest ICC title which was the T20 World Cup 2024.

The ODI World Cup 2023 is the second-last ICC event where Australia emerged victorious after defeating India in the final. Both these teams are in different groups in the upcoming Champions Trophy and there is a chance that they can face off against each other in the knockouts.

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Ravi Shastri picks finalists for Champions Trophy 2025

While speaking in The ICC Review, Ravi Shastri picked India and Australia to go all the way to the summit clash in the Champions Trophy. According to him, both these teams are in great form which makes them the favorites to win the title as well.

“India and Australia are both in prime form, and it would take a lot for any other team to challenge them,” Shastri said on the episode.

Ravi Shastri also picked England and South Africa as the potential semifinalists. It is to be noted that only two of Australia, England, and South Africa can make it to the semifinals since all these teams are in the same group.

"Hard to go past India and Australia" - Ricky Ponting

In the same episode, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting echoed Ravi Shastri's sentiments and spoke about the quality of cricketers in both countries. He feels that India and Australia have a good record in ICC events and look good to go all the way.

“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 reckoned.

Apart from India and Australia, Ricky Ponting also picked the hosts Pakistan to go all the way. Ponting believes that Pakistan have the form on their side after impressive performances in ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa recently.

When will the Champions Trophy 2025 begin?

The Champions Trophy 2025 will begin on February 19 with hosts Pakistan playing New Zealand at Karachi. India will play Bangladesh the next day in Dubai. The marquee clash between India and Pakistan will take place on February 23 in Dubai.

All the teams will play their matches in Pakistan except India, who will play their games in Dubai due to the hybrid model. The final of the tournament will be played on March 9 at Dubai or Lahore, based on India's availability.