The 2025 Champions Trophy will start from February 19. Here's Wisden's pick of the betting odds for the edition.
This year the tournament marks its return after a gap of eight years. Pakistan enter as the defending champions and will host the eight-team tournament.
The sides have been divided into two groups. Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and New Zealand, while Group B features Afghanistan, England, Australia and South Africa.
Initially, Pakistan were given the entirety of the hosting rights but India’s longstanding policy of not touring their neighbour due to strained bilateral relations led to a hybrid model. India are set to play their fixtures at Dubai.
England have the second-worst balls per dismissal against spin among all Full-Member teams since the start of 2023.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 5, 2025
How they tackle the slower bowlers will be the biggest question as they head into the Champions Trophy.
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Who will win Champions Trophy 2025?
As always, India will enter another ICC tournament as firm favourites. Over the years, they have dominated in various global tournaments across the league stage but stumbled in the knockouts. Last year, however, things changed, when India scripted history by lifting the T20 World Cup at Barbados, putting an end to their 11-year trophyless streak.
However, one of their major headaches is the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, who is in a race against time to recover from a back injury. Despite that, their bases are well covered and that shows on Betfair Sportsbook's odds of 6/4 India becoming champions yet again.
History is also on their side as India are the most successful team in the tournament's history (joint with Australia), having shared the trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002 and winning a tight final against England in 2013.
Australia are one team who can give India a run for their money. The 2023 ODI World Cup final was a prime example of that; despite all the odds against them, Australia lifted their game in front of a packed Ahmedabad crowd to win the World Cup for the record sixth time. Currently, they are priced at 4.6 on Betfair Exchange and 5/1 on Sportsbook - reminding everyone of their prowess when it comes to global tournaments.
Are there any long punts worth taking?
It would be a travesty to not mention Afghanistan first here given their rapid rise in global tournaments in recent years. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, they managed to beat three previous World Cup-winning teams in England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Before the league match against Australia, they had destiny in their hands needing just two wins from two reach knockouts.
Afghanistan almost pulled off an upset, reducing Australia to 91-7 within 19 overs before Glenn Maxwell’s all-time rescue effort deprived them of glory. They did somewhat redeem themselves in last year’s T20I World Cup though, first by beating Australia in the Super Eights and then by sealing their maiden semi-final berth.
Despite their odds of winning the tournament being an unconvincing 21 on Betfair Exchange, and 16/1 on Sportsbook one can’t count them out given their recent consistency. All they need is to take care of the pressure of expectations.
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