ICC Champions Trophy 2025 outright predictions and free cricket tips: Star-studded India have eyes on the prize

Best bets

India to win Champions Trophy
3pts 13-8 bet365, BoyleSports, Hills

India & South Africa to reach the final
1pt 15-2 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 predictions

After an eight-year absence from the international cricketing calendar, the ICC Champions Trophy makes its return this week and it should be worth the wait.

Defending champions Pakistan are tournament hosts but due to continuing political tensions between the countries, any matches involving India, including any potential semi-final or final contests, will take place in the UAE.

The hybrid hosting model makes for an interesting dynamic but bookmakers feel it will be more beneficial than detrimental to the chances of India, who are favourites to lift the trophy at 13-8.

Aside from the geographical aspect, the biggest talking point surrounding the Men in Blue is the absence of prolific paceman Jasprit Bumrah.

A back injury has ruled out the 31-year-old, who can be a game-changer for India, but there is every chance they can cope without him.

A benefit of playing in the UAE rather than Pakistan is that India will be operating on slower surfaces more conducive to spin, so just how much of a difference would Bumrah have made?

Mohammed Shami is not at his sharpest right now but he took a tournament-high 24 wickets at the ODI World Cup in 2023 and India have a dangerous armoury of spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

There is also no shortage of stars in the batting department with in-form pair Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer ably supported by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya.

A first ODI series loss to Sri Lanka since 1997 last August may have tempered enthusiasm around an India win at this tournament but they silenced their doubters with a 3-0 thrashing of England on the eve of the Champions Trophy.

They have the benefit of playing all of their matches in the same country and with head coach Gautam Gambhir out to prove a point, the outright favourites are the team to back.

Those after a juicier bet might look at 2013 runners-up England but it is hard to make a case for Jos Buttler's side.

Play availability has undoubtedly played its part but there is no ignoring the fact England scraped into this year's Champions Trophy with an underwhelming seventh-placed finish at the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Since then, they have lost all four of their series in the format and form is most definitely not on their side.

Defending ODI World Cup champions Australia showed two years ago that they can perform on the subcontinent and they are always a danger, while Pakistan will be eager to make the most of home advantage.

But the other side to keep an eye on are South Africa.

The Proteas have a deep and power-packed batting lineup featuring Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma, as well as a diverse bowling attack.

They were both semi-finalists at the ODI World Cup in 2023 and runners-up at last year's T20 World Cup and they could well topple Afghanistan, England and Australia in Group B.

If they do that and India win Group A as anticipated, it could pave the path for a thrilling finale between the sides - a final which looks overpriced at 15-2.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 odds

Prices shown are best prices as of 4.30pm on Sunday February 16 and subject to change

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