ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Bangladesh Preview

By Umesh Kumar

I am a Passionate Cricketer, Writer and Believer who Happy to serve you from this Platform.

Posted: February 19, 2025
Last updated: February 20, 2025

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to feature an exciting opener with India facing Bangladesh. The match is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. The game will start at 1 pm local time (09:00 GMT).

India, currently ranked at the top of the ICC’s ODI rankings, comes into the tournament with a strong squad led by captain Rohit Sharma. Fresh from their recent triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup and a successful 3-0 ODI series win against England earlier this month, India is a formidable force. They boast a spin-heavy side featuring top players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Key players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are also part of the squad.

Historically, India has had much success in the Champions Trophy, having won it twice before in 2002 and 2013. They were also the runners-up in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Despite Pakistan being the host nation this year, all of India’s matches will be played in the UAE. This unique scheduling has not deterred India’s confidence as they are favorites in this competition.

On the other hand, Bangladesh, ranked ninth in the latest ICC ODI rankings, will be looking to make a mark in this tournament. Bangladesh reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in 2017 and will aim to improve on that performance. However, they face a setback with the absence of key player Shakib al Hasan due to injury. The team will be captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto, with Mushfiqur Rahim as the wicketkeeper.

This match promises to be an engaging start to the Champions Trophy, as both teams will want to secure a win to gain momentum in the tournament. Fans will be watching closely to see if India can maintain their dominant form or if Bangladesh can cause an upset.

In conclusion, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener between India and Bangladesh is highly anticipated, with both teams eager to begin their campaign on a positive note. The dynamics of experience and talent on both sides ensure an exciting contest, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling tournament.