ICC Champions Trophy 2025: History beckons as eight teams battle to overcome multiple challenges in hunt for glory

Some contestants battle injuries to star players among other obstacles while others dream of upsetting the big guns

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Despite a late injury setback with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out due to a back issue, India arrive at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a star-studded line-up.

Fielding a majority of the names that featured at the 2023 World Cup, where they finished runners-up, the experienced duo of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli power a well-rounded batting line-up.

Meanwhile, fresh names have been introduced in the bowling line-up with Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy putting themselves in the mix.

A noticeable feature of the squad is the presence of multiple all-rounders such as Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who provide depth with bat and ball.

Having played a major role in India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Pandya, one of the architects of India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, will be critical to India's Champions Trophy ambitions.

In the absence of Bumrah, the 31-year-old premiere seam-bowling all-rounder is likely to shoulder added responsibility with the ball in hand.

With the bat, Pandya holds the key as a proven power-hitter, who can accumulate runs quickly in the lower order.

Australia's challenge to overcome key injuries

Australia have been hit by injuries to key players, with regular skipper Pat Cummins, and pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood along with all-rounder Mitch Marsh all ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

This, along with the surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis, has forced Australia to call-up several backup players.

Despite all this, the Aussies still have a number of experienced campaigners to call upon in the tournament.

Veteran star Steve Smith, fresh off a Test series win in Sri Lanka, will lead them in the Champions Trophy.

Along with Smith, explosive all-rounders Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, who played a crucial role in Australia's Cricket World Cup 2023 triumph, will also be key to their chances.