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According to former Australian captain Michael Clarke, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian men’s cricket team will beat Australia in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Michael Clarke backs India to beat Australia in Champions Trophy 2025 final. (Picture Credit: PTI, Screengrab)
Former Australian men’s cricket team captain Michael Clarke has made a bold prediction for the upcoming 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. According to the member of the Australian team that won the Champions Trophy title under Ricky Ponting’s leadership in 2006 by getting the better of the West Indies, India and Australia will face each other in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to take place on March 9.
Clarke feels the Champions Trophy final will be a repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup summit clash, but this time, India will beat the six-time ODI World Cup winners.
“My fingers are crossed for Australia, so I am going to say Australia is going to be one of them, and I think they are going to play India in the final. (Repeat of the 2023 ODI World Cup final) that’s what I am hoping for,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
“You know what, I think India is going to beat Australia in the final. Can’t believe that just came out of my mouth. I think India is going to win the tournament. I am going with them,” he added.
In the upcoming edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, India will open its campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and then face arch-rivals in the second Group A match at the same venue on February 23. India’s third match is scheduled to take place in Dubai on March 2 against New Zealand.
Australia, on the other hand, will face England in the first Group B match on February 22 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The Steve Smith-led side will face South Africa in the second match on February 25 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Afghanistan on February 28 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Australia, which last won a match in the Champions Trophy in 2009, will miss the services of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis in the Champions Trophy 2025. While Cummins, Hazlewood, and Marsh are out of the eight-team tournament due to injury-related issues, Starc pulled out on February 12 due to personal reasons, whereas Stoinis has retired from the 50-over format of the game.
