Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin predicted that India and New Zealand are the strongest contenders to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
At the same time, the 38-year-old cautioned not to take Australia casually despite a few of their key players being ruled out of the tournament due to injury. He points out that the Aussies are known for exhibiting a top-notch performance in a grand tournament.
The 50-over tournament featuring eight teams kickstarts on February 19 with matches being lined up across Pakistan and the UAE.
As India recently sealed the 3-match ODI series against England with a 2-0 lead in Cuttack, the legendary spinner suggests that a triangular tournament would have enhanced the team’s preparation ahead of the high-profile tournament.
Why Team India is One of the Strongest Contenders to Win the Champions Trophy 2025? Ashwin’s Opinion
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin prioritizes India as the top favorite highlighting the similarity between the home ground and UAE conditions:
“Of Course! India is the top contender having the advantage of competing on similar home pitch conditions as in Dubai. Also, the other teams competing against India in the UAE will experience the feeling of playing on Indian soil. However, it is a boon for India and a bane for other teams,” the Chennai-born Indian legendary spinner said.
Following the hybrid model, India will be playing all its matches at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai based on the agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This gives a fair advantage for the men-in-blue to get familiarized with the conditions in Dubai and wouldn’t require traveling to different locations to play their matches in the tournament.
New Zealand as Tough Competitor to India
Furthermore, Ashwin said that New Zealand could pose a challenge to India despite the changes in their bowling line-up that marks the absence of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have stopped playing the 50-over format:
“Definitely! After India, I believe that New Zealand is one of the top contenders to win the Champions Trophy. But, the absence of Southee and Boult raises questions about their bowling attack. Who could be a backup pacer to Matt Henry? Is it Will O-Rourke or Ben Sears who has the potential to become the next big champions of the next generations?
However, their experienced spin attack is armed with Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips. As Mitchell Santner is the captain, it would be exciting to watch how he executes his plans to handle his resources. With New Zealand being a strong team, they can pose a tough challenge to India,” the ex-Indian off-spinner said.
Australia Could Bring their A-Game in ICC Tournaments: Ashwin Alerts Team India
Having observed Australia’s transformation into a highly competitive team in ICC events, Ashwin names few match-winners in the squad who can steer their side into the knockouts:
“YES! Steven Smith is a perfect role for a captain just like a marriage made in heaven, and he is going to lead the team in the Champions Trophy. Having a quality set of players like Smith, Head, Maxwell, and Labuschagne, the team is certain to enter the semis. I always agree with the fact Australia is the champion that always brings their A-game (highest level of game) in high-profile tournaments.
Although Australia has certain drawbacks in their bowling line-up, a lot of factors depend on Smith’s form with the bat and brilliancy on the field as a captain,” Ashwin added a few more facts.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy, it is a big blow for Australia with the skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Josh Hazlewood sidelined from the squad due to injuries. Similar is the case of the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who is struggling with a back injury. Whereas, Marcus Stoinis recently announced his retirement from the 50-overs format, thereby excluding himself from the squad ahead of the tournament.
Tri Series or Bilateral Series for India’s Preparation Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025: Ashwin Gives His Suggestion
With the Tri Series making a return after several years, Ravichandran Ashwin questions what if India could have played a triangular contest rather than a bilateral series for England to improve their preparation ahead of the Champions Trophy:
“Look! I just wanted to ask one question. Is this preparation against England sufficient for India ahead of the CT 2025 in Dubai? Should we have played a tri-series too for better preparation? Teams like Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand are playing the tri-series in Pakistan, which would help them familiarize themselves with the conditions and enhance their performance in the Champions Trophy. In contrast, India has played only against England in the white-ball format at home. Also, there aren’t any wonderful memories of playing T20 cricket in Dubai. As a result, the toss factor becomes extremely important in Dubai. I feel that the toss-winning team will have an added advantage,” the right-arm off-spinner said.