Cricket legends Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri have identified India and Australia as the leading contenders to face off in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their predictions are based on the teams’ recent performances and the depth of talent in their squads.
Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting remarked, “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” (source).
Shastri echoed this sentiment, highlighting the consistent success of both teams in major tournaments. He also mentioned England and South Africa as strong semi-final contenders, noting their potential to challenge the favorites (source).
Ponting added that host nation Pakistan could be a formidable opponent, citing their recent ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa. He acknowledged Pakistan’s unpredictability but emphasized their potential to make a significant impact in the tournament (source).
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to commence on February 19, with the final set for March 9. Matches will be held across venues in Pakistan and Dubai, with India playing its games in Dubai due to the hybrid hosting model.
As the tournament approaches, fans eagerly anticipate high-stakes matches and the possibility of witnessing another classic India vs Australia final.
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