With the eight final squads now out, here are the likeliest starting XIs for all eight sides for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan
Starting XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Others: Naveed Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ikram Alikhil (wk).
So strong is the Afghan spin attack that even the wunderkind Allah Ghazanfar may not be missed, but pace remains a concern. Fareed may get the nod ahead of the only option, Naveed. However, if the wicket assists turn, they may add Kharote as well, using Omarzai (and Gulbadin) to back Farooqi.
Australia
Starting XI: Matt Short, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson. Others: Alex Carey (wk), Tanveer Sangha, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Dwarshuis.
The string of injuries have hurt Australia, but there is little doubt over their first XI. Abbott, Ellis, and Johnson may lack the weight of names of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, but they form a quality seam attack.
Bangladesh
Starting XI: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana. Others: Tanzim Sakib, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Jaker Ali (wk).
Assuming Mustafizur is fit and bowling at his best, Nahid is likely to get the nod ahead of Sakib. If Bangladesh need the extra spinner, they can always drop both and pick Nasum.
England
Starting XI: Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer. Others: Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton.
Jacob Bethell's injury saw Tom Banton called up to the squad, and England instantly slotted him in, rejigging the balance of the side. Whereas Jamie Overton had slotted in at No.7 before, now Liam Livingstone looks set to be called upon for a full quota each game, with Joe Root filling in. That will mean their bench will consist of Smith, still nursing an injury, and three fast bowlers who would lose out to Carse in the race for the third seamer.
India
Starting XI: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami. Others: Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar
Arshdeep’s experience at the death (albeit largely in T20 cricket) may help him get the nod ahead of Harshit. To back the left-arm defensive spin of Axar and Jadeja, India will pick one strike spinner. There, Kuldeep’s experience across conditions may help him pip Varun, India’s wildcard entry. Of course, if the conditions really assist spin, India may play both and use only Pandya along with Shami.
New Zealand
Starting XI: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson. Others: Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy
Ravindra and Ferguson have picked up injuries, but New Zealand retained both in their squad. The updates seem promising as well. If they do not recover in time, New Zealand can bring in Duffy for Ferguson. Chapman is likely to replace Ravindra, but if they need someone who bowls spin, do not rule out Bracewell.
Pakistan
Starting XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf. Others: Faheem Ashraf, Kamran Ghulam, Usman Khan, Mohammad Hasnain.
Pakistan retained Rauf in their squad, so his injury may not be serious. If he is not available for the first match, Faheem is the likeliest replacement. The other spots are more or less certain.
South Africa
Starting XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi. Others: Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tristan Stubbs
A batting line-up strong enough to keep Stubbs out (unless Markram opens), South Africa also have three bona-fide all-rounders (two more than the 2023 World Cup) to choose from. Since Jansen is a sure starter, they will have to choose between Mulder and Bosch. However, if the conditions do not assist spin, they may leave out Shamsi for Ngidi (or even pick both Mulder and Bosch).
