Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has recently shared his picks for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The ninth edition of the tournament is set to begin on February 19, with hosts and defending champions Pakistan facing New Zealand in the opening match at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
It’s important to note that India will play all their matches in Dubai, while the remaining games will take place in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi in Pakistan.
The final is slated for March 9 in Lahore, unless India qualifies, in which case it will be moved to Dubai.
In a recent interview, Gavaskar named Pakistan as the favorites, emphasizing the significance of their home advantage.
“Pakistan should be considered the favorites due to the challenge of facing any team in their own conditions,” Gavaskar stated.
He also referred to India’s dominant performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament before losing to Australia in the final.
“India lost in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, but before that, they displayed exceptional performances, winning ten matches in a row,” he added.
“Therefore, I believe Pakistan are the favorites for the upcoming tournament,” Gavaskar concluded.