Champions Trophy 2025: Team-wise one player who might disappoint the most

Champions Trophy 2025- Team-wise one player who might disappoint the most (Photo Source: ICC)

The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy (CT 2025) is set to commence on Wednesday, February 19, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the opening encounter, at the National Stadium, in Karachi.

Eight teams have been divided into two groups. Group A consists of India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and defending champions Pakistan. Meanwhile, Group B features England, Australia, South Africa, and debutants Afghanistan. India are set to play their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The high-voltage India versus Pakistan clash will be held at the same venue on Sunday, February 23.

Let’s have a look at one player from each team who might disappoint the most:

8. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)

Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the finest players to have represented Bangladesh. However, the 37-year-old hasn’t been at his best with the bat of late. Mushfiqur was a part of the Fortune Barishal side that recently won the Bangladesh Premier League title for the second year in a row. However, his performances didn’t match his lofty standards.

In nine innings, the Bogra-born scored 184 runs at an average of 26.28 and a strike rate of 127.77. He failed to register a half-century throughout the season, with his highest score being 42 not out. Mushfiqur will have to play a key role as one of the senior-most players in the Bangladesh side, especially with stalwarts like Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal missing the tournament.

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7. Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan)

Rahmat Shah is one of the most experienced batters in the Afghanistan lineup. However, he didn’t live up to his potential with the willow last year in the ODI format. In 14 matches, he aggregated 280 runs at an average of 23.33 and a strike rate of 68.12.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have the ability to get Afghanistan off to a solid start. Rahmat’s role at No. 3 is going to be crucial as he can play the anchor’s role while the other big hitters like Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib can express themselves from the other end.

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6. Tom Latham (New Zealand)

Tom Latham has been an unsung hero of New Zealand on many occasions. However, he hasn’t been at his best in the last couple of years in the 50-over format. Latham averaged 29.87 from 27 innings in ODI cricket in 2023.

This year, he has already played five games but has only managed 57 runs. On three occasions out of his five outings with the bat, he has registered ducks. Latham can play equally well against seamers and spinners when he is on song. His role at No. 5 will be crucial, especially through the middle overs.

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Also Read: Tim Southee backs Kiwi mix of youth and experience to shine in Champions Trophy

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5. Harry Brook (England)

Harry Brook is touted as one of the most talented young batters in modern-day cricket. He has been a force to reckon with in Test cricket. However, his performances in the white-ball format for England have not been as impressive.

Brook has played 23 ODIs and scored 769 runs at an average of 36.62 and a strike rate of 101.99. In the recently concluded three-match ODI series against India, he registered scores of 0, 31, and 19. Brook was dismissed by Harshit Rana, who was making his ODI in the series, in all three games. The right-handed batter would want to make amends in the Champions Trophy.

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4. Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)

Lungi Ngidi has completed eight years in international cricket. He has blown hot and cold in his career so far. While the right-arm pacer has the ability to take wickets, he tends to go for a lot of runs even on pitches which are not very conducive for batting.

He didn’t have a great outing during the tri-nation series against New Zealand and Pakistan. In two games, he conceded 128 runs in 16 overs at an economy rate of 8 and picked up a solitary wicket. In the absence of Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee, who are injured, Ngidi will have to play a crucial role with the ball alongside Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

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3. Matthew Short (Australia)

Matthew Short is expected to open the innings along with Travis Head. The right-handed batter didn’t have a great time during the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month. He registered scores of 0 and 2 and was dismissed by Asitha Fernando in both games.

Travis Head likes to play his natural aggressive game. The Australian team management will want Short to give the southpaw good support at the top of the order. Short has only played 13 ODIs where he averages a paltry 17.91. He would want to forget the past and make the most of his opportunities in the global event.

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2. Pakistan – Babar Azam

Babar Azam. (Source -Twitter/X)

Babar Azam is one of the finest batters in modern-day cricket. However, he has been struggling with the blade across formats for quite some time. The right-handed batter was dropped from the Test side last year before making a comeback against the West Indies in January. However, he registered 45 runs from four outings in Multan.

In the tri-nation series, he managed just 62 runs from three innings at an average of 20.67 after being promoted to the top of the order. Pakistan head coach Aqib Javed has backed the right-handed batter to open the innings in the Champions Trophy despite his low scores against New Zealand and South Africa. It will be interesting to see whether the 30-year-old would excel in what is still a new role for him.

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Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Aakash Chopra predicts Pakistan’s playing XI, omits Babar Azam as an opener

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1. KL Rahul (India)

KL Rahul has been a brilliant performer for India at No. 5 in the batting order. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s inclination towards keeping a left-right combination saw him slipping down the order in the first two games in the recent series against England.

Rahul’s skills will be utilised to the fullest if he bats at No. 5. He averages a staggering 56.47 at that position. However, in the four innings he has played at No. 6, the 32-year-old’s average drops below 19. It will be interesting to see where the team management slots him in the batting order.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this news article is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and perspective. Readers are encouraged to evaluate the details thoughtfully and draw their own conclusions.