ICC Champions Trophy 2025 All 8 Teams Best Predicted Playing 11

Teams affected by unwanted injuries in our best predicted playing 11 for each team for the ICC Champions Trophy (CT) 2025. 

The world is gearing up for the ultimate showdown of the year, the Champions Trophy 2025, but just 2 weeks before the tournament, many players are already ruled out of the tournament. At least four teams have been severely affected by injuries or rule-outs. While Team India have lost their diamond Jasprit Bumrah, South Africa and England have lost one player, and Australia have lost as many as 5 players. 

The Champions Trophy 2025 is making a comeback after a gap of almost 8 years, so the excitement to witness the tournament is already sky-high. But even before the tournament, Australian players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis have been ruled out. Meanwhile, from South Africa, Anrich Nortje has been ruled out, and from India and England, Jasprit Bumrah and Jacob Bethell have been ruled out.

This is bad news for all four teams, and especially Australia who will be without five quality first-choice players. With so many quality players missing, it certainly changes the playing 11 combination drastically. So, considering the best available squad in front of us, let’s analyze the best possible playing 11 for all 8 teams for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for Afghanistan

1. Ibrahim Zadran
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
3. Rahmat Shah
4. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
5. Azmatullah Omarzai
6. Gulbadin Naib
7. Mohammad Nabi
8. Rashid Khan
9. Fareed Ahmad
10. Noor Ahmad
11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Starting with Afghanistan, we should see a team that has many quality bowlers in their side. Afghanistan will once again depend on their key bowlers, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Mohammad Nabi. Their strength is bowling, and along with a strong bowling lineup, the batting looks decent with the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, and Azmatullah Omerzai.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for Australia

1. Travis Head
2. Matthew Short
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steven Smith (c)
5. Josh Inglis (wk)
6. Glenn Maxwell
7. Aaron Hardie
8. Sean Abbott
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Adam Zampa
11. Spencer Johnson

The Australian team is already facing a big headache with five of their first-choice players being ruled out. The Aussies have named replacements, but some of them don’t look like-for-like replacements. Looking at the current squad, the Aussies don’t have a replacement for Stoinis or Marsh, and they will have to either go for batting depth or bowling depth. If Aussies go for batting depth, Alex Carey will play at 7, and Maxwell, Short, and Head will have to bowl 10 overs. But Aussies’ pain point is their bowling, and Hardie and Abott are decent batters at 7 and 8, and thus the above playing 11 looks more ideal. 

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for Bangladesh

1. Tanzid Hasan
2. Soumya Sarkar
3. Najmul  Shanto (c)
4. Towhid Hridoy
5. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
6. Jaker Ali
7. Mahmudullah
8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz
9. Tanzim  Sakib
10. Taskin Ahmed
11. Mustafizur Rahman

The Bangladesh team has a good mix of experience and youth. Along with senior players from Bangladesh, there’s Mushfiqur Rahim, Captain Najmul Shanto, and Mahmudullah, and among bowlers, there’s Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Tanzim Sakib. It’s a good team with good bowlers. But batting is where the Bangladesh team might find some trouble.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for England

1. Ben Duckett
2. Phil Salt (wk)
3. Joe Root
4. Harry Brook
5. Jos Buttler (c)
6. Liam Livingstone
7. Jamie Overton
8. Brydon Carse
9. Jofra Archer
10. Adil Rashid
11. Mark Wood

The England team suffered a heavy 3-0 whitewash against India recently, and it is no surprise given how bad this England team is. Barring Jos Buttler, and maybe Joe Root, the team lacks the capability to play quality spinners. There is a lack of batting depth with reliance on Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse. Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer are two good bowlers, and to support them other bowlers will have to step up big time. Overall, this team lacks the capability to beat even the depleted Aussies side.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for Team India

1. Rohit Sharma (c)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (wk)
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Axar Patel
9. Arshdeep Singh
10. Mohammed Shami
11. Kuldeep Yadav

Team India suffered a huge blow when their jewel Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back injury. Without Bumrah, India should mostly play Arshdeep and Shami as leading pacers with Kuldeep Yadav as the leading spinner. But knowing Gautam Gambhir, anything can’t be surely said. India’s strength is their batting with a strong and settled batting lineup till number 8. But how India handles their bowling will be the key to their success.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for New Zealand

1. Rachin Ravindra
2. Devon Conway
3. Kane Williamson
4. Daryl Mitchell
5. Tom Latham (wk)
6. Glenn Phillips
7. Mark Chapman
8. Mitchell Santner (c)
9. Lockie Ferguson
10. Matt Henry
11. Will O’Rourke

New Zealand are one team that has always looked for consistency in their playing 11 selection. The Champions Trophy 2025 seems no different. If all players are fit, Rachin and Conway should open with Williamson, Mitchell, and Latham in the middle-order, and Chapman and Santner in the lower-order. The bowling looks slightly feeble without Southee and Boult, hence how the likes of Ben Sears / Lockie Ferguson and Will O’Rourke perform will be interesting.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for Pakistan

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Saud Shakeel
3. Babar Azam
4. Mohammad Rizwan (c&wk)
5. Tayyab Tahir
6. Kamran Ghulam
7. Salman Agha
8. Shaheen Afridi
9. Naseem Shah
10. Haris Rauf
11. Abrar Ahmed

The home team Pakistan has always relied on their strong bowling when it comes to the success of their team. It is the same for Champions Trophy 2025 with 4 strong bowlers in the side., Shaheen, Naseem, Haris, and Abrar. However, batting is a big headache for Pakistan, and a lot will depend on the trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman to have a successful tournament.

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Playing 11 for South Africa

1. Temba Bavuma (c)
2. Tony de Zorzi
3. Aiden Markram
4. Rassie van der Dussen
5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
6. David Miller
7. Marco Jansen
8. Wiaan Mulder
9. Keshav Maharaj
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Tabraiz Shamsi

The rise of South African cricket in the last few years has been phenomenal, and seeing the quality of players in their side, it comes as no surprise. Right from a strong batting core to having reliable bowlers, South Africa have all their bases covered. And if there is one team that can give a tough fight to Team India, it has to be South Africa. Don’t be surprised if we see another India vs South Africa final in Dubai.

So, that’s about the best playing 11 for all 8 teams for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Overall, India and South Africa look the strongest on paper. The home team Pakistan, or the underdogs New Zealand, depleted Australia, and quality-lacking England. All four have some weaknesses on their side, which can become an issue in crucial matches. But cricket is a game of uncertainty, and on the D-day, anything can happen. So, let’s go back, and enjoy the 15-match drama for 20 days.

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the best playing 11 for all 8 teams for the Champions Trophy 2025? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com.

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.