Former Australian captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has predicted that India and Australia will face off in the final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan. Based on their recent performances and strong squads, Ponting believes these two cricketing powerhouses will once again dominate a major ICC event.
Ponting also named England and South Africa as the other two semifinalists, completing what he expects to be the final four teams in the competition. His predictions were echoed by former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was also part of the latest episode of The ICC Review, where both experts analyzed the tournament’s potential outcomes.
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Discussing his views, Ponting stated, “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.”
Both teams have a rich history in the Champions Trophy, with India having won the tournament twice in 2002 and 2013, while Australia claimed the title in 2006 and 2009. The two nations have also met in high-stakes ICC finals recently, with Australia emerging victorious in both the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023.
However, Ponting also identified Pakistan as a potential challenger to the tournament’s favorites. He acknowledged Pakistan’s impressive recent form in ODIs and believed that, despite their reputation as an unpredictable team, they could pose a serious threat. “The other team that is playing some really good cricket at the moment is Pakistan. Their one-day cricket over the last little bit has been absolutely outstanding. We know they’re not always the most predictable team in those big tournaments, but they seem like they’ve sorted things out a little bit,” Ponting said.
Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan enters the 2025 Champions Trophy with strong momentum, having secured ODI series victories in Australia and South Africa. They will also take confidence from their triumph in the previous edition of the tournament. In 2017, a young Pakistan side captained by Sarfaraz Ahmed stunned the cricketing world by defeating India in the final at The Oval. Fakhar Zaman’s remarkable century and a dominant bowling performance secured Pakistan’s maiden Champions Trophy title, an achievement they will look to replicate on home soil.
The upcoming tournament will begin on February 19 in Karachi, with Pakistan set to face New Zealand in the opening match. One of the most anticipated clashes of the group stage will take place on February 23 in Dubai, where Pakistan and India will go head-to-head once again. The final is scheduled for March 9, where the battle for ICC supremacy will reach its climax.
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