Champions Trophy 2025: Is It Finally India’s Time?
-by Dr AK Rana Hello, cricket fans! The countdown to the Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, and the excitement is off the charts! Who do you see in the finals? India vs. Australia? India vs. New Zealand?
New Zealand has haunted India in ICC knockouts for years. The 2019 World Cup semifinal still stings—India, dominant throughout the tournament, collapsed while chasing a modest target. The response? “Even Australia lost, so you can’t blame us!” Fast forward to 2023, India finally broke the jinx against the Kiwis, only to face Australia in the final. And we all know how that ended.
India vs. Australia: A Rivalry Getting Spicier!
India vs. Pakistan might always be the biggest spectacle, but India vs. Australia is now cricket’s fiercest modern rivalry. The Aussies always seem to have an edge in ICC finals. The 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad was a soul-crushing moment for Indian fans. Years of heartbreak in semis and finals, and when the dream seemed within reach—boom! Another ICC trophy slipped away.
That loss at home was devastating. Many fans turned away, disheartened. By the time the 2024 T20 World Cup arrived, expectations were at an all-time low. But then… something unexpected happened.
The T20 World Cup 2024: A Fairytale Comeback!
India wasn’t the favorite. Fans had mentally checked out. But then came that match—Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh. If Afghanistan won, Australia was OUT. And guess what? It happened! The buzz was unreal—India was back in the tournament.
Then came the final: India vs. South Africa—a battle of two “chokers” in ICC events.
The match was tense. India’s batting struggled, but Virat Kohli stood tall, anchoring a respectable total. When South Africa started chasing, it felt like a repeat of past heartbreaks—TVs were switched off, people went to bed, no one wanted to witness another nightmare. But then—Suryakumar Yadav’s gravity-defying catch changed everything! Calls flooded in: “Wake up! India is back!” The final few overs were breathless moments.
And then came Hardik Pandya. A man who had been through hell in the past few months—hated, booed, and trolled relentlessly after the Mumbai Indians captaincy controversy and divorce rumors. But in that one over, with the trophy on the line, he silenced his haters. Ball after ball, he turned doubt into belief, and on the last delivery—India had won.
After 11 years, an ICC trophy finally came home! India erupted in celebration—a night no fan will ever forget!
But Did We Win Just Because Australia Wasn’t There? Champions trophy 2025
That’s the big debate. Would India have won if Australia had made the final? Every Indian fan is a supporter, critic, and analyst rolled into one. And yes, deep down, we all wonder.
Now, Champions Trophy 2025 is here. And India’s form? Let’s be honest—not great. BGT 2024 was a disaster, knocking us out of the World Test Championship race.
Meanwhile, Australia is going through big changes:
❌ Pat Cummins OUT
❌ Josh Hazlewood OUT
❌ Stoinis retired
✅ But wait… Travis Head is playing! (Uh-oh.)
Even without their star players, Australia remains dangerous. This team has a history of turning even their tailenders into match-winners. No one ever underestimates the Aussies.
Shubman Gill as Vice-Captain for champions trophy squad
The vice-captaincy decision sparked a huge debate among fans. Many believe Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, or Bumrah deserved the role over Shubman Gill. Especially since Gill has struggled with his form over the past year. But in the latest ODI against England, he was just 13 runs away from a century (its pity the score to chase was too low)—a glimpse of his potential as a responsible leader.
However, Gill has a habit of being too hard on himself. He overanalyses his failures, doubts his entire process, and in doing so, hurts his own form. Instead of second-guessing everything, he must focus on improving day by day, trusting his instincts, and believing in himself.
Can India Overcome the Pressure?
The team isn’t in its strongest form, but belief is everything.
- Rohit Sharma and Kohli must rediscover their rhythm—it’s now or never.
- Vice-captain Gill needs to lead with confidence, not self-doubt.
- Pandya, KL Rahul, and Bumrah must step up in crunch moments.
India defied the odds in the T20 World Cup. Can they do it again in the Champions Trophy?
Halleys Clinic cheers for Team India! Let’s hope this time, we create history again!
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also read Abhishek Sharma the Next Rohit Sharma? A Knock to Remember at Eden Gardens
