It is a short tournament, and the teams don't have the chance to make a comeback after a poor start. We have had seven winners in the past eight editions (with India and Sri Lanka sharing the title in 2002), which is a testimony to the level of competition we have seen in this tournament. There have been several changes in most teams since the last ICC Cricket World Cup, and it will be interesting to see how the teams perform. Here's where the eight teams stand ahead of the tournament.
# Pakistan
It will be a tough challenge for the defending champions as they look to defend their title in their backyard. The 2017 win was the last major success for the side, and since then, they have struggled. The last two years haven't been great for the team, as they have won only half of their 20 games, with most wins coming against lower-ranked teams. Mohammad Rizwan would want his players to leverage the home advantage and perform well. Players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman must do well for the team to win against the stronger teams in their group.
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
# India
They lost in the final in the last edition but have the best odds on cricket betting sites. The side has shown good consistency in the last 24 months and made it to the ICC Cricket World Cup finals, only to lose against Australia in 2023. Rohit Sharma lifted the T20 World Cup title last year and would like to add another jewel to the crown. They have won the tournament twice, the last winning in 2013. The team ticks all the boxes regarding experience and young talent and expects Virat Kohli, Mohammad Shami, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya to do well. Based on their strengths, the Indians will be one of the teams to watch out for in the tournament.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
# Australia
The mighty Australians always start as one of the favourites in any ICC tournament. Pat Cummins and his team won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, and the players will look to draw inspiration from that. They have won the title twice in 2006 and 2009 but have had group-stage exists in the last two editions. They have players who excel under pressure on the big stage and are some of the favourites to lift this title. Travis Head, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa are in good form, and the team expects them to do well.
Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
# South Africa
The South Africans won the inaugural title in 1998 when the tournament was played in the knockout format. Since then, the side has never come close to winning the tournament. They have made it to the semifinal four times but succumbed to pressure. The side didn't go beyond the league stage in the last edition but does have a good group of players. Temba Bavuma would aim for the second title in this tournament and need Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, and David Miller to deliver the goods for the team.
Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen
# England
England has been the most consistent team in the last three editions. They have reached the semifinal twice and the final once. However, the title has eluded them, and Jos Buttler and his players will look to win their maiden title this season. The team has made several changes to the ODI squad after their debacle in the 2023 World Cup. The young players have made the side strong, and they will be one of the toughest teams in the tournament with a strong batting lineup. Jofra Archer, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Ben Duckett, and Phil Salt are key team players and must do well in this contest.
Squad: Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
# New Zealand
The Kiwis won the title in 2000, and Mitchell Santner and his team would like to end the 25-year wait for a second title. The last two editions have been bad for the team, as they haven't gone beyond the group stage. The team has shown consistency in the last two years and has done well against most teams. However, their poor record of faring poorly in key contests on the big stage is worrying. It is the Golden Generation of New Zealand's ODI team, and they will expect a good show in the competition from Kane Williamson, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and Tom Latham. The Kiwis will be one of the dark horses in this edition.
Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young
# Afghanistan
The Afghans will debut in this edition, as the team didn't qualify in the past. Hashmatullah Shahidi and his players will look to do well on the big stage. The team has grown in confidence and has consistently performed over the last two years. The conditions will suit their style of play, and the players will look to take full advantage of it. Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Rashid Khan will look to use their experience and put up a good fight against their stronger opponents.
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran
# Bangladesh
The Bangladeshis are the weakest team this season. The side has struggled with its form and consistency in the last two years. They surprised everyone by reaching the semifinal in the last edition, the peak of Bangladesh cricket in this format. The side has won only 14 out of the 41 games in the last 24 months. Nazmul Hossain Shanto must lead from the front, and he will expect a good show from Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed.
Squad: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
We have had a busy T20 season in the last two months, with the Super Smash, Big Bash League, SA20, International League T20, and the Bangladesh Premier League offering us some thrilling contests. Before we have another entertaining season of the Indian Premier League, the action shifts to the 50-over format of the game. We are in the 9th edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. It comes after a long game, as the last tournament took place in 2017. 
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