The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was the ninth edition of cricket’s premier one-day international tournament, held across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from 19 February to 9 March 2025. India claimed their record third title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, cementing their status as the most successful team in the competition’s history.
What is the ICC Champions Trophy?
The ICC Champions Trophy is the International Cricket Council’s second most prestigious one-day international tournament after the Cricket World Cup. Often referred to as the “Mini World Cup”, it features the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings competing in a compact, high-stakes format. First held in 1998 as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, it was rebranded as the Champions Trophy in 2002 and has since become one of cricket’s marquee events.
After a seven-year hiatus following the 2017 edition, the tournament returned in 2025 with Pakistan as the host nation. Due to security concerns raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), all of India’s matches were played at a neutral venue in Dubai, creating a unique hybrid hosting arrangement that defined this edition of the tournament.
When was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
The tournament ran from Wednesday 19 February to Sunday 9 March 2025. The group stage comprised 12 matches across the opening two weeks, followed by the semi-finals on 4 and 5 March and the final on 9 March.
Key dates included India’s high-profile group match against Pakistan on 23 February in Dubai, the semi-finals at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the National Stadium in Karachi, and the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Where was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
Four venues across two countries hosted the tournament. In Pakistan, matches were played at the National Stadium in Karachi (capacity 34,000), Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore (27,000), and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (15,000). All of India’s fixtures, including the semi-final and the final, took place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE (capacity 25,000, expandable to 30,000).
This was Pakistan’s first time hosting a major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 Cricket World Cup, representing a significant moment for cricket in the country. The venues underwent extensive upgrades in preparation, with the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore receiving a major renovation.
Key Contenders and Results
Eight teams competed across two groups. Group A featured India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B comprised Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
India were the dominant force throughout, winning all five of their matches to lift the trophy unbeaten, a first in Champions Trophy history. Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front, scoring 76 in the final against New Zealand and earning the Player of the Match award. The semi-finals saw India defeat Australia (267/6 to 264 all out) and New Zealand overcome South Africa (362/6 to 312/9) in a high-scoring encounter.
In the final on 9 March, New Zealand posted 251/7 from their 50 overs, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with 63. India’s chase was anchored by Rohit Sharma’s 76 off 83 balls, and KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 saw the side home at 254/6 with an over to spare. Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was named Player of the Tournament for his 263 runs across the competition, while teammate Matt Henry took the most wickets with 10.
How to Watch the ICC Champions Trophy
The 2025 Champions Trophy was broadcast extensively across the globe. In India, coverage was available on Star Sports and Sports18 via the JioStar network, with streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports held the broadcast rights. Australian fans watched via Amazon Prime Video, while in New Zealand, Sky Sport NZ carried the coverage.
In North America, Willow TV broadcast all matches in the USA and Canada. Fans in the Caribbean had access through ESPN Caribbean, while South African and sub-Saharan African viewers watched on SuperSport. In Pakistan, PTV and Ten Sports provided linear television coverage alongside digital platforms Myco and Tamasha. ICC.tv offered free live streaming in over 80 territories worldwide, including Nepal, Japan, and Malaysia.
History and Records
The Champions Trophy has been contested nine times since its inception in 1998. India are the most successful team with three titles (2002, 2013, 2025), followed by Australia with two (2006, 2009). South Africa (1998), New Zealand (2000), West Indies (2004), and Pakistan (2017) have each won once, while India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners in 2002 after the final was abandoned twice due to rain.
The tournament has produced many iconic moments in ODI cricket. Pakistan’s triumph in 2017 on English soil, when they defeated India by 180 runs in the final at The Oval, remains one of the most memorable performances. Australia’s back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2009 underlined their dominance in the format during that era.
India’s 2025 victory was notable for several reasons: they became the first team to win the Champions Trophy without losing a single match, Rohit Sharma added another ICC trophy to his collection after leading India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024, and the tournament marked the successful return of the competition after its seven-year absence.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for matches in Pakistan started from 1,000 PKR (approximately GBP 3) for general admission, rising to 25,000 PKR for premium seating at high-profile fixtures. In Dubai, prices ranged from AED 125 (approximately GBP 27) for group stage matches to AED 12,000 (approximately GBP 2,600) for the best seats at the final.
The final between India and New Zealand saw tickets worth over 20.5 crore INR (approximately GBP 1.9 million) sold, reflecting the enormous demand for India’s matches throughout the tournament. Tickets were sold through the ICC’s official ticketing partners, with Pakistan Cricket Board managing domestic sales and the ICC handling Dubai allocations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
The tournament took place from 19 February to 9 March 2025, with the final held on 9 March at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Who won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
India won the 2025 Champions Trophy, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. It was India’s record third title in the competition.
Where was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 held?
The tournament was hosted across Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi) and the UAE (Dubai), with India’s matches played at the neutral Dubai venue.
Who was Player of the Tournament?
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was named Player of the Tournament, scoring 263 runs across the competition. Matt Henry, also of New Zealand, was the leading wicket-taker with 10 dismissals.
When is the next ICC Champions Trophy?
The next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for 2029. The host nation has not yet been confirmed.