Who Are The Dark Horses for the ICC Champions Trophy?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Rashid Khan To Lead Afghanistan’s Title Charge
Afghanistan has emerged as one of the most intriguing dark horses ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy following their sensational performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup where they stunned onlookers with a comprehensive victory over then-defending champions England. Notably, the upset was not just a one-off anomaly - it was a watershed moment in the nation’s cricketing journey, signalling that they were ready to compete with the top teams on the global stage.
The Blue Tigers' progress at the 2023 World Cup did not stop at England though, as they went on to down two more former title holders in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with their incredible 283-run chase against the Shaheeens setting a new benchmark. Rashid Khan, who is widely considered one of the greatest sportsmen the country has produced, has been a key figure in the team's rise, and while their World Cup campaign came with its share of regrets - including faltering batting and key dropped catches - it undoubtedly put the nation on the map as a team that simply cannot be taken lightly.
Heading into the 2025 Champions Trophy, Afghanistan’s mix of experience with the likes of Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, combined with their burgeoning batting strength, which is led by the prolific opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, makes them a formidable opponent to any competitor. Since 2020, Gurbaz and Zadran have scored 1,514 runs at an average of 48.83 - a record only bettered by India’s Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. If the Blue Tigers can put their best foot forward and stamp out costly errors, they can easily be one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
South Africa Aim To End Trophy Drought
South Africa, despite consistently ranking among the best teams in the world while possessing some of the finest talents, has struggled to deliver on their potential, suffering several near-misses at major tournaments. The Proteas finished as runners-up in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where they lost out to India in a thrilling final and reached the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup a year earlier. The inaugural Champions Trophy winners are determined to shed the title of “chokers” in this competition, but they have been hit hard by injury setbacks in the lead-up to the tournament.
Key pacers, including Nandre Burger (back) and Lizaad Williams (knee), are ruled out through injury for the remainder of the season, while Anrich Nortje, who was initially named in the squad, was a late withdrawal owing to a back issue. However, perhaps the biggest concern for the Proteas is the fitness of star batter David Miller, who is nursing a right groin injury and his participation in their opening match against Afghanistan is a major doubt. Given the absence of these key players, the team’s depth will be tested but that is not to say that they are without a chance.
South Africa boasts a strong and deep batting lineup, with options like Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, and Temba Bavuma as openers, ahead of a settled middle order featuring Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and Miller (provided he is passed fit). With the ball, the Proteas are set to unleash Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi as their main spin duo, with the former having 55 wickets at 30.65 while the latter has 73 scalps in 53 matches. The team’s pace attack is spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and left-armer Marco Jansen, who have 203 wickets between them.
