Champions Trophy: Ricky Ponting Predicts These Two Teams to be in the Final

Former Australian skipper predicts India, Australia, England, and South Africa as semi-finalists, with Pakistan posing a strong challenge in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

February 2, 2025: ICC Hall of Famer and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has predicted India and Australia as the two finalists of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan. Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, also named England and South Africa as the other two semi-finalists of the tournament. Former India coach Ravi Shastri echoed Ponting’s predictions during the discussion.

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Ponting highlighted the consistency of India and Australia in major ICC events, citing their recent successes and star-studded lineups. “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—inevitably, Australia and India are there somewhere,” Ponting said.

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India and Australia’s Stellar Records

India and Australia, the two most successful teams in Champions Trophy history, have both won the title twice—India in 2002 and 2013, and Australia in 2006 and 2009. The two nations recently faced each other in the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup finals in 2023, with Australia emerging victorious on both occasions. Both teams will aim to add another ICC trophy to their illustrious records.

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Pakistan: A Dark Horse?

While India and Australia remain strong favorites, Ponting emphasized Pakistan’s potential to challenge the top teams. “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 big tournaments, but they seem like they’ve sorted things out a little bit,” Ponting noted.

Pakistan enters the tournament with momentum, having secured ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa. Led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, the hosts will look to replicate their success from the 2017 edition, where they defeated India in the final at The Oval to claim their maiden Champions Trophy title.

Tournament Highlights

• The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will commence on February 19, with Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi.
• A highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
• The final will take place on March 9.

With a rich history of thrilling contests and unpredictable moments, the Champions Trophy 2025 promises to deliver another unforgettable chapter in cricket.

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Champions Trophy 2025, Ricky Ponting Predictions, India vs Australia Final, Pakistan Cricket, ICC Events, Ravi Shastri, Cricket Semi-Finals, Cricket Tournament Highlights.