Champions Trophy 2025: Top 5 exciting matches you can’t miss

The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, February 19. The coveted 50-over tournament will be making a much-anticipated return after almost eight years. Other than this, what makes the spectacle all the more special is Pakistan has been presented with the opportunity of co-hosting their first ICC tournament after a lengthy hiatus of 29 years. With the tournament edging closer, the buzz surrounding the same has been quite intense. The four venues in Dubai, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been shortlisted to host this edition's games. India's games will be played in Dubai. Group A comprises Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan make up Group B. Top 5 exciting matches you can’t miss: 5. India vs New Zealand (March 2) India vs New Zealand (Source: Surjeet Yadav/MB Media/Getty Images and ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images) Both the sides are coming off successful white-ball stints. While India asserted their supremacy by trouncing England, New Zealand are coming off a successful Tri-Nation Series against Pakistan and South Africa. In none of the three games did they look rusty, with the Black Caps looking quite sorted with their squad composition. A 2-1 series victory against Sri Lanka in the previous month stands as another testament to their strong ODI form. Having failed to win in any ICC event against the Kiwis, the Indians finally ended that streak in the 2023 World Cup. They first got the better of New Zealand in the group-stage, before booking their spot in the final by defeating them in the semi-final. This particular fixture to be played in Dubai will be the final group-stage match of the tournament. There is a high likelihood of this game being a virtual quarter-final for both sides. Also Check - Champions Trophy 2025: Team-wise one player who might disappoint the most 4. England vs South Africa (March 1) England vs South Africa (Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images and ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images) England have not been anywhere near good white-ball form of late. Their recent struggles against India in the T20I and ODI series losses have further added scrutiny on their preparedness for the tournament. They only managed to win one out of the eight games played on their tour to India. However, what makes this clash between the two sides one to watch out for is the thrilling combination of ice and fire they bring to the table. While the English seem determined to impose their dominance via an assertive template right from the outset, the Proteas possess all the variety in their bowling unit to make life difficult for any batting lineup on their day. Also Check - Champions Trophy 2025: How the teams are shaping up 3. Afghanistan vs Australia (February 28) Afghanistan vs Australia (Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images and Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Match 10 of the tournament will be a duel between Afghanistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Since making their debut in the ODI format, Afghanistan have played against the Men in Yellow only four times. The 2023 game at the Wankhede Stadium where an outworldly Glenn Maxwell's double-ton snatched victory from the jaws of the Afghans was the closest Afghanistan has ever got to defeating Australia. With the Aussie batters' recent struggles against spin, the matchup between them and Afghanistan's spinners will be a showdown worth watching. Afghanistan will be entering the tournament in a rich vein of ODI form, having won their last three matches. Their recent tour to Zimbabwe was an immense success. Also Check: Broadcast details for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 announced 2. Australia vs South Africa (February 25) Australia and South Africa. (Photo Source: Twitter/X) The previous instance when Australia locked horns against South Africa, the former ended up clinching a thrilling semi-final triumph at the World Cup in 2023 at the Eden Gardens. Chasing a modest 213 for victory, the Australian batters were given a run for their money by the perservance on display by the Proteas' bowling attack. The two sides are coming into the tournament on the back of really underwhelming string of fixtures in the ODI format. The Aussies were comprehensively defeated by Pakistan on home soil in November last year before getting clean swept by Sri Lanka recently. Meanwhile, taking the three-match home series against Pakistan and the recently-concluded Tri-Nation Series in consideration, South Africa have lost five consecutive ODIs for the first time since 2004. 1. Pakistan vs India (February 23) India vs Pakistan. (Photo Source: Twitter/X) The coming Sunday is poised to feature yet another riveting clash between Pakistan and arch-rivals India. The last time the two sides clashed in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan ended up dominating India in the final of the 2017 edition. A 180-run rout earned Pakistan their first title in the tournament. Pakistan hold the edge over India in the Champions Trophy, leading the scoreline via a 3-2 margin. However, it has been the complete reverse when it comes to recent white-ball games. Since Pakistan's victory in the final in 2017, Pakistan have managed to win only twice in 11 clashes played across formats; in the T20 World Cup 2021 and Asia Cup 2022. The most-recent meeting between the two sides ended in the favour of the eventual runners-up of the World Cup 2023, India.

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Champions Trophy 2025: Top 5 exciting matches you can’t miss

The ninth instalment of the marquee ODI tournament is all set to get underway on Wednesday, February 19.

1. Pakistan vs India (February 23)

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