The captains for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy have been announced for several teams. These leaders bring a mix of experience and recent successes to their respective sides. Each team aims to perform well, with some captains facing crucial tournaments to secure their leadership roles for the future.
1. Afghanistan
Considered dark horses in recent ICC tournaments, Afghanistan has seen success in ODIs, finishing sixth in the 2023 Cricket World Cup and defeating Bangladesh and South Africa in bilateral series in 2024. Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain Afghanistan in their first-ever Champions Trophy appearance, with the team aiming to reach the knockout stages after reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals last year.
2. Bangladesh
Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Bangladesh had a memorable 2017 campaign, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in a senior men’s ICC event. This time, they face a tough challenge in their group, which includes India, New Zealand, and hosts Pakistan.
3. South Africa
After a heartbreaking loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, South Africa will aim to end their ICC trophy drought in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Temba Bavuma has been named as the captain for the tournament. Under his leadership, the South African Test team has also secured a spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 final. With two ICC tournaments in 2025, Bavuma and South Africa have a chance to finally claim an ICC title.
4. New Zealand
All-rounder Mitchell Santner has been entrusted with leading New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Known for their consistency in ICC tournaments over the past dozen years, the Kiwis had a disappointing campaign in the 2017 Champions Trophy, exiting in the group stage. Santner will have the support of senior players Tom Latham and Kane Williamson as he takes on his maiden ICC tournament as New Zealand’s captain.
5. England
Despite England losing both ICC white-ball titles in the last two years, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has continued to back Jos Buttler as captain for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Buttler led England to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup, but the team struggled afterward, failing to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup and being knocked out in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The upcoming tournament will be crucial for Buttler’s future as England’s white-ball captain, with Brendon McCullum making his debut as England’s white-ball coach after taking on the all-format coaching role.
6. Australia
ODI and Test skipper Pat Cummins has been named as Australia’s captain for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, his participation remains uncertain due to an ongoing ankle issue. After leading Australia to victory in the 2023 World Cup and ICC WTC 2023, Cummins will aim to break Australia’s poor record in the Champions Trophy, where they were eliminated in the group stages in both the 2013 and 2017 editions.
7. India
Rohit Sharma will lead India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Having become India’s full-time ODI captain in 2021, he captained the team to a runners-up finish in the 2023 World Cup and led India to a T20 World Cup victory in 2024. Rohit was also a key figure in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win and played a crucial role in their 2017 final appearance, finishing as India’s second-highest run-scorer in 2013.
