The ninth version of the ICC Champions Trophy kicks off tomorrow, February 19, with eight elite cricket groups battling it out for supremacy. Because the event begins, specialists and former gamers are already speculating concerning the standout performances that can form the competitors.
The ninth editon of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Amongst them is Australia’s legendary fast bowler Brett Lee, who took to his YouTube channel to debate the highest 5 batters to be careful for on this 12 months’s occasion. Lee’s professional picks give attention to gamers who possess the ability, temperament, and kind to dominate the event. His evaluation contains key figures who may emerge as game-changers for his or her respective groups. With thrilling predictions and high expertise taking middle stage, the Champions Trophy 2025 guarantees to ship high-quality cricket and unforgettable moments. The world eagerly awaits as the primary ball is bowled tomorrow, with all eyes on these key gamers to go away their mark.
Brett Lee’s high 5 batters to be careful for
5. Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen makes Lee’s record because the fifth high batter to be careful for within the Champions Trophy. Klaasen, nonetheless carrying the sting of the T20 World Cup closing defeat, is thought to be an outstanding hitter of the ball with a particular potential to sort out spin bowling. His clever cricketing thoughts and adaptableness make him a harmful participant in any format, significantly in stress conditions. Klaasen’s sharp cricketing acumen permits him to learn the sport successfully, and his all-round recreation, together with his fast working between the wickets, makes him a chief candidate for prime run-scoring performances. Lee urged that Klaasen might be the game-changer for South Africa, able to posting large scores when least anticipated.
“He’s a brilliant hitter of the ball. He loves going through spin and he’s received nice footwork. He’s additionally actually good at working between the wickets, and that’s a key a part of his recreation. What makes Klaasen stand out is his cricketing thoughts – he reads the sport very well. Don’t be shocked if he’s amongst the runs. He has the power to vary the course of a match, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he has a large affect on this event,” Lee stated.
Additionally READ: New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra predicts the finalists of Champions Trophy 2025
4. Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand‘s Rachin Ravindra takes the fourth spot, with Lee describing him as an thrilling younger expertise with a wide selection of strokes. Famend for his elegant cowl drive and pull shot, Ravindra isn’t solely a fluent participant but additionally somebody who can dominate each quick bowlers and spinners. Lee emphasised Ravindra’s potential to go downtown and play a variety of pictures, making him a deal with to look at. This Champions Trophy might be the right stage for Ravindra to showcase his abilities and cement his repute as one of many world’s high younger batters. Along with his outstanding shot-making, he’s anticipated to rack up some large runs.
“Rachin Ravindra is a good looking exponent of the quilt drive, the pull shot – you title it, he’s received it. He’s a freak of nature, and I completely love watching him play. He’s fearless in his strategy, taking up the quick bowlers and spinners alike. He can go downtown when wanted and is an effective participant of spin. Ravindra’s received all of the instruments, and I believe this event is a giant alternative for him to dominate on the world stage,” the 48-year-old emphasised.
3. Jos Buttler
England’s explosive batter Jos Buttler is an apparent choose for Lee’s record. Buttler has been one in every of England’s greatest white-ball gamers lately, recognized for his dominant strategy and skill to shift stress again on the opposition bowlers. Lee mirrored on the issue of bowling to a participant like Buttler, who not solely seems to be to dominate however does so with precision. Buttler’s potential to speed up within the later phases of the innings is one more reason why Lee picks him as a key participant to look at. If Buttler stays on the crease previous the fortieth over, his probabilities of getting a century are excessive, making him some of the harmful gamers within the event.
“It’s important to choose him – he’s been England’s greatest white-ball batsman. Jos Buttler’s strategy is all about domination. He seems to be to place the stress proper again on the quick bowlers, and that makes it tremendous onerous for them. If you bowl towards somebody like him, you recognize you’re up for a tricky time. Consider the likes of the greats who’ve dominated within the white-ball format, just like the RSA scales of the world. Jos is a type of guys. If he’s nonetheless there by the fortieth over, you’ll be able to guess he’ll be nicely previous 100. I believe Buttler will rating large runs on this event,” the cricketer turned commentator mirrored.
2. Travis Head
Travis Head’s consistency and calm beneath stress earn him a spot as one in every of Lee’s high batters to look at. Having come off a wonderful Take a look at sequence towards India, Head is in nice kind heading into the Champions Trophy. Recognized for his adaptability to subcontinent situations, Head can counter each tempo and spin with ease. His potential to comb and use his ft towards spin makes him a formidable participant in any setting. Lee urged that Head might be one of many event’s high run-scorers, significantly resulting from his cool-headed nature and skill to carry out beneath stress.
“Travis Head must be within the high 5 for me. He’s an ICC specialist, and coming off a incredible Take a look at sequence towards India, this man simply goes from power to power. He’s cool beneath stress and does nicely in subcontinent situations. He can sweep, use his ft towards spin, and when he’s on, he’s a severe participant. Head is one to look at, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him amongst the highest run-scorers on this event,” the previous right-arm pacer emphasised.
1. Shubman Gill
Lee has positioned Shubman Gill because the primary batter to look at within the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Whereas the apparent picks could be Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, Lee is backing Gill to take the highlight on this event. As vice-captain of the Indian group, Gill has rather a lot to show and will probably be wanting to redeem himself after a interval of relative silence. Lee believed Gill has the potential to return to his run-scoring methods and ship some large performances, together with presumably a few centuries. With rather a lot to show on the world stage, Gill is anticipated to be one of many standout performers.
“You’d clearly suppose it will be Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma on the high of the record, and so they’ll undoubtedly rating their fair proportion of runs, however I’ve gone with Shubman Gill. He’s been excellent just lately, and this 50-over format towards the likes of Australia and Pakistan will give him an opportunity to show himself once more. Gill’s received rather a lot to show, not simply to the world however to himself. I wouldn’t be shocked if he finds his profitable methods once more, will get again to scoring recurrently, and probably scores a few large centuries. Watch this house – Shubman Gill might be the highest scorer on this event,” Lee concluded.
