India’s Parthiv Patel reveals the ‘dark horse’ in Champions Trophy 2025

The countdown to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, with cricket fans eagerly anticipating the return of the prestigious tournament. Set to take place in Pakistan and the UAE, the global event promises intense competition among the top eight ODI teams. With India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan competing for the coveted trophy, excitement is at an all-time high.

The tournament, last held in 2017, has a rich history of producing thrilling encounters, and this edition is expected to be no different. With teams arriving in peak form and conditions favoring both batters and bowlers, the Champions Trophy 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated cricketing spectacles of the year.

Parthiv Patel picks the dark horse of the global event

While powerhouses like India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa are considered strong contenders based on their records in ICC events, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has identified a team that could spring a surprise.

Speaking on Star Sports, Parthiv named Afghanistan as the ‘dark horse’ of the Champions Trophy, citing their impressive performances in the 50-over format.

“There’ll be India, Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia just given the record in ICC trophies. But my dark horse is Afghanistan. They have played really good cricket in the 50-over format. It was just that Glenn Maxwell’s innings, otherwise, I think they were right there in the race to reach the semi-finals. So, you know, Afghanistan could come in and surprise all other teams,” said Parthiv.

Notably, Afghanistan will begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 21 against South Africa at National Bank Stadium in Karachi. They will then travel to Lahore for the matches against England and Australia on February 26 and  February 28, respectively.

Also READ: Head Coach Gautam Gambhir identifies Team India’s “X factor” for Champions Trophy 2025

Inspiring performance so far

Afghanistan have emerged as a force to be reckoned with in recent years, proving their potential on the big stage. Their campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup saw them in contention for a semi-final spot, with key victories against major teams. In the T20 World Cup 2024, they made history by securing a semi-final berth, stunning Australia in the Super 8s and showcasing their growing dominance.

With a strong bowling attack featuring Rashid Khan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, alongside match-winning batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan have the firepower to challenge the tournament’s heavyweights. If they continue their upward trajectory, they could very well emerge as the biggest surprise package of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Also READ: Australia’s Michael Clarke picks his favourite team to win Champions Trophy 2025