ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Michael Clarke predicts India to avenge CWC 2023 final defeat, warns Australia

Former Australia National Cricket Team skipper Michael Clarke has backed the India National Cricket Team to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Michael Clarke has predicted that the India National Cricket Team will avenge their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final loss and crush Australia National Cricket Team in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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Australia shattered India's World Cup dream in 2023

November 19, 2023, is regarded as the worst day in the history of Indian cricket. Billions of hearts were broken when India's winning streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 ended in the final of the tournament.

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the India National Cricket Team had a dream run in the World Cup at home, and they won all the matches heading into the final.

Team India looked very dominant throughout the league stage as well as in the semi-final and were favorites to lift the World Cup on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

However, destiny had planned something else for Rohit Sharma & Co. and they ended up on the losing side. The Aussies once again stood out with their performance on the grandest stage and won by 6 wickets with 42 balls remaining to lift the World Cup.

Travis Head became India's biggest nightmare as he demolished the dominant Indian bowling attack in the summit clash and won the Player of the Match award for his explosive 137 runs knock.

India and Australia in different groups in the Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to start on February 19 and India and Australia have been placed in different groups. Australia are in Group B alongside Afghanistan, South Africa, and England while India are in Group A along with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.

The Men In Blue are once again favorites to win the ICC tournament as they have a very strong team and momentum on their side, having whitewashed England at home in the three-match ODI series. Rohit Sharma's team will start their campaign with the match against Bangladesh on February 20.

Meanwhile, Australia will begin their campaign with the match against England on February 22. However, they have a lot of issues in the team as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis are all set to miss the competition due to different reasons.

Another thing that the Aussies would be worried about is that they last won a Champions Trophy match way back in 2009.

I think India is going to win the tournament - Michael Clarke

Meanwhile, speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Michael Clarke said that Australia would make it to the final of the tournament. He added that the repeat of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final will be witnessed in the Champions Trophy, but with India being winners this time around.

“My fingers are crossed for Australia, so I am going to say Australia is going to be one of them, and I think they are going to play India in the final. (Repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final) that’s what I am hoping for," Michael Clarke said.

“You know what, I think India is going to beat Australia in the final. Can’t believe that just came out of my mouth. I think India is going to win the tournament. I am going with them,” Michael Clarke added.