ICC Champions Trophy 2025 News: India and Australia Start Strong

The ICC Champions Trophy is hotting up in Pakistan, with excitement growing among cricket lovers who have had to wait eight long years for the tournament.

While not quite as popular as the Cricket World Cup or the IPL, there is no doubt that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a top competition to bet on.

At the midway point of the group stage, India and New Zealand are heading to the semi-finals from the first pool while Group B remains wide open with all teams still having two games left.

Let's take a look at the latest ICC Champions Trophy 2025 news as momentum starts to build in the mid-way part of the tournament.

Remember: here at OCBscores we have a prediction for every game!

ICC Champions Trophy News: India off to a Flyer

India were among the big favourites at the start of the competition and they have lived up to that billing so far.

When they played their opening match of the tournament, India won by six wickets against Bangladesh, easing to a low target of 229 with three and a half overs to spare.

A blockbuster clash with Pakistan ended in the same result, with India restricting their rivals to 241 all out and only losing four wickets in the chase, winning with more than seven overs left.

Harshit Rana's bowling has helped India to restrict their opponents to low scores, with his 15.2 overs to date costing just 61 runs while picking up four wickets.

Hardik Pandya also has an excellent economy rate from India's opening two fixtures, with his overs costing just over four runs each.

India's bowling attack is dangerous from all angles, with Mohammed Shami taking 5-53 to set up their victory over Bangladesh and Kuldeep Yadav taking 3-40 against Pakistan.

On the batting side, both Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill have made superb unbeaten centuries to anchor India's successful chases. Kohli hit the winning runs and made history against Pakistan, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs.

India now face New Zealand in the Group A closer with the pressure off, though the victor of that match will earn top spot and potentially a less challenging semi-final clash.

Duckett Century in Vain Against Australia

There is no doubt which Champions Trophy match was the most entertaining so far as England racked up an impressive 351/8 from their 50 overs against Australia in Lahore.

Ben Duckett's superb 165 is the highest innings of the tournament so far but England could not defend their massive tally after Josh Inglis ran riot in the chase.

When England celebrated the early wickets of Travis Head and Steven Smith, Australia were on the ropes at 2-27, but Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship.

That set the platform for Inglis to explode with a sensational 120 from 86 seeing the batter clear the ropes six times in an all-out assault on the England bowlers.

Glenn Maxwell helped to finish the match off with a brutal 32 from only 15 deliveries with Brydon Carse having a particularly tough day, taking 1-69 from his seven overs.

England will now have to beat Afghanistan to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive, with a potential crunch clash against South Africa finishing their group stage in Karachi.

Afghanistan are also facing an early CT exit after South Africa beat them by 107 runs.

Opener Ryan Rickelton set the tone with a terrific 103 and he was backed up by half-centuries from a trio of team-mates: Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram.

Williamson Form Poses a Selection Headache for Black Caps

New Zealand are already into the semi-finals of the tournament after Rachin Ravindra's century steered them to an easy victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday.

But the Black Caps might have concerns over the form of key batter Kane Williamson, who has recorded single-digit scores in both of their matches to date.

Daryl Mitchell missed the victory over the Tigers due to illness but will be expected to return to the team for their Group A closer against India, which will be played in Dubai.

Opener Will Young made a century as the Black Caps made 320/5 against Pakistan - keeper Tom Latham also passed three figures - so their places are surely set in stone. Some tough decisions will have to be made in the days leading up to NZ playing again.

New Zealand also have some issues to iron out on the bowling side, having lost 22 runs conceded through wides against Bangladesh, which is their second most in a men's ODI.

Does Dubai Base Give India the Edge?

Although Pakistan were named the hosts of the tournament, some of the biggest ICC Champions Trophy 2025 news in the build-up was that India would play their games in Dubai.

India are guaranteed to play their semi-final in Dubai and it has already been confirmed that the final will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium if India make it that far.

Not having to travel is likely to be a significant advantage for India with other sides having to make their way around Pakistan, or even flying to the UAE, for their matches.

If they make it to the final, India will have already played four games at the venue, while their opponents will be newer to playing in Dubai.

That seems to give India a big boost. Dubai is known for its slower pitches and India, who boast a battery of superb spinners, have been training at the ICC Academy to get used to conditions.

Even with star bowler Jasprit Bumrah missing the tournament because of back problems, India look like the team to beat at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.