Shockwaves & Showstoppers: Group Stage Moments That Set the Tournament on Fire
The Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off with high expectations — a compact, elite tournament featuring the best 8 teams in the world. But right from the group stage, it delivered drama, records, and unforgettable twists that no one saw coming.
Let’s rewind and relive the most thrilling moments from the first half of the tournament — the ones that set the tone for a truly iconic event.
📘 Table of Contents
1. Pakistan’s Shock Exit on Home Soil
As hosts and defending champions, Pakistan entered the tournament as favorites. But things spiraled quickly. A shaky batting lineup, misfiring bowling, and lack of intensity saw them crash out in the group stage — a massive letdown for home fans.
Their defeat to Afghanistan in a must-win match was the final blow. The streets of Lahore fell silent, and cricket’s most unpredictable team had become its biggest headline — for all the wrong reasons.
2. Duckett’s Destruction: England’s Firestarter
England’s Ben Duckett lit up the tournament with a blazing 165 against Australia — the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. And just when you thought it would stand the test of time — boom! In comes Ibrahim Zadran from Afghanistan, rewriting history in just four days. Who saw that coming?
Duckett’s innings wasn’t just about the runs — it was the audacity. Reverse sweeps, slog pulls, and fearless charge-downs defined the knock. Though England eventually lost the match, Duckett’s performance stood out as a reminder of the modern white-ball batting revolution.
3. Ibrahim Zadran’s Record-Breaking Statement
Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket took a giant leap when Ibrahim Zadran scored 177 off 146 balls, breaking Duckett’s record just four days later.
This wasn’t a cameo. It was a masterclass — one that stunned the opposition and won Afghanistan their biggest-ever win in ICC history. The innings proved that Afghan cricket isn’t just about spin anymore — they’ve arrived with the bat too.
4. Australia’s Chase of the Century
England’s massive 356 looked unchaseable — until Australia stepped up. In what turned out to be the highest successful chase in Champions Trophy history, they overhauled the target in exactly 50 overs, with Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith anchoring the miracle.
It was a thriller that swung back and forth — and became an instant classic.
5. Varun Chakaravarthy Spins a Web
India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy grabbed a maiden five-wicket haul against New Zealand in a pressure match, announcing himself on the global stage. He became the the third Indian who took five-wickets haul in Champions Trophy.
His sharp-turning deliveries and unreadable variations dismantled the opposition’s middle order. In a tournament dominated by power hitters, his spell reminded everyone that in pressure moments, craft beats chaos.
The Verdict: A Group Stage Full of Fire
The Champions Trophy 2025 group stage wasn’t just entertaining — it was unpredictably brilliant.
- Favorites stumbled.
- New heroes emerged.
- Records were rewritten.
All signs pointed to one thing: this wasn’t going to be just another ICC event — it was shaping up to be a classic.
Coming Up Next
👉
“Knockout Kings: How India Held Their Nerve in the Semis and Final”
Get ready for Kohli’s grit, Rohit’s magic, bizarre luck, and a title-winning chase you won’t forget.
Champions Trophy 2025 — FAQs
1. Who was the highest run‑scorer in Champions Trophy 2025?
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand topped the charts with 263 runs in four matches, including two centuries followed by Shreyas Iyer with 243 runs and then Ben Duckett with 227 runs.
2. Which player scored the highest individual score in the tournament?
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan) posted the highest tally with 177, surpassing Ben Duckett’s 165 .
3. How many runs did Ibrahim Zadran score in Champions Trophy 2025?
He scored 216 runs overall, averaging 72.00, including his standout knock of 177.
4. Who took the most wickets in Champions Trophy 2025?
The leading wicket-taker was Matt Henry (New Zealand) with 10 wickets.
5. How many wickets did Varun Chakaravarthy take, and did he feature in top bowling charts?
Varun Chakaravarthy grabbed 9 wickets, placing him second in the tournament’s wicket list .
6. Which bowler had the best figures in an innings?
Matt Henry claimed the best bowling figures of the tournament — 5/42.
7. Who had the best bowling average in the tournament?
Varun Chakaravarthy recorded the best bowling average with a stunning 15.11 for his 9 scalps .
8. Which player secured a five‑wicket haul besides Matt Henry?
Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Shami and Azmatullah Omarzai also claimed a five-wicket haul besides Henry.
9. Who was the Player of the Tournament?
Rachin Ravindra earned Player of the Tournament honors for scoring 263 runs and contributing as an all-rounder .
10. Which Indian bowler featured prominently in the stats?
Kuldeep Yadav finished with 7 wickets, showcasing strong middle-over control and economy .
11. How did England’s Ben Duckett perform in terms of stats?
Duckett scored 227 runs at an average of 75.67, featuring the tournament’s second-highest individual score of 165.
12. Which match generated the highest team total?
New Zealand recorded the highest team total of 362/6, followed by Australia’s 356/5 and England’s 351/8.
13. Who topped the sixes and fours charts?
- Rachin Ravindra hit the most fours (29).
- Azmatullah Omarzai led in sixes with 8.
14. Which bowler had the best strike rate?
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne recorded the tournament’s best bowling strike rate of 15.00 (balls per wicket).
15. What was the highest economy rate by a bowler?
The most economical bowling came from Matthew Short of Australia, with an econ rate of just 3.50
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