Rachin Ravindra Predicts the Finalists of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has given his predictions for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Cricket PassionEditor
Posted - 2025-01-14T19:56:26+06:00
Updated - 2025-01-14T19:56:26+06:00
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has given his predictions for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9.
New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra on Monday predicted a thrilling showdown between New Zealand and Australia in the final of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The prestigious tournament will be played in Pakistan next month and Ravindra believes the two teams will battle it out for the ultimate prize on March 9.
In an exclusive interview with an ICC, Rachin backed New Zealand and Australia in the final. Rachin expressed confidence in the competitive strength of both teams, highlighting Australia's dominance in all formats and New Zealand's ability to shine on the world stage. While he refrained from naming hosts Pakistan or world number one India as finalists, he said he was hoping for a thrilling trans-Tasman derby.
"It's always very difficult to predict (finalists) because you always want to say New Zealand because you're in. So we hope we're in. I mean, we'll take it game by game and with the other groups, it's quite hard to rule out the likes of Australia.
I think they're a really good team and they've shown how strong they are in all formats. They are also the current defending champions of the ODI World Cup, so hopefully it will be a trans-Tasman derby," said Rachin.
The 25-year-old left-hander was in spectacular form during the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, amassing over 500 runs and helping New Zealand to a semi-final place.
Ravindra, who has scored 945 runs and 18 wickets in 28 ODIs, is excited at the opportunity to represent New Zealand in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The 25-year-old left-hander was in spectacular form during the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, amassing over 500 runs and helping New Zealand to a semi-final place.
The Champions Trophy is back after an eight-year hiatus. The tournament will feature 15 matches in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Dubai. The format features eight teams divided into two groups, with each match having a big stake, similar to knockout matches. Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia. With a knockout format, each match is of immense importance, adding to the excitement of the tournament.