The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been a rollercoaster tournament, especially for team captains. While Team India has stormed into the final with spectacular performances, the tournament has been a nightmare for some of the top teams. The unexpected early exits of England, Pakistan, and Australia have triggered massive shake-ups, including captain resignations and retirements.
Three Captains Under Fire: What Happened?
This year’s Champions Trophy has been harsh on captains, with three major teams witnessing significant leadership changes. England, Pakistan, and Australia, all former tournament winners, faced crushing defeats, leading to their captains stepping down or being removed.
1. Pakistan’s Disastrous Run Ends in Captain’s Removal
Pakistan entered the tournament with high hopes but had a shockingly poor run, failing to win even a single match. Their journey started with a loss against New Zealand and was further shattered by a defeat to arch-rivals India. Following their elimination, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took a harsh step, removing captain Mohammad Rizwan not only from ODIs but also from the T20 squad. On Pakistan’s upcoming New Zealand tour, Salman Agha has been appointed as the new T20 captain.
2. England’s Captain Steps Down After Embarrassing Exit
The England team, which had toured India before the Champions Trophy and suffered a clean sweep in the ODI series, had high ambitions. They claimed that losing in India wasn’t a concern since their goal was to win the Champions Trophy final. However, things went south when England suffered a humiliating defeat against Afghanistan, resulting in an early exit from the tournament. Captain Jos Buttler, unable to take his team to the semi-finals, decided to step down from his position after the elimination.
3. Australia’s Captain Announces ODI Retirement
Australia, a strong contender in every ICC tournament, couldn’t stand against India’s formidable performance in the semi-final. Under Steve Smith’s captaincy, Australia won the toss and batted first, setting a target of 265 runs. However, Virat Kohli’s brilliant innings led India to victory by four wickets. Following the defeat, Steve Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket, marking the end of his 50-over career.
How India’s Dominance Shaped the Tournament
The Indian team has been on a dream run in the Champions Trophy. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India has displayed clinical performances, eliminating major teams like Pakistan and Australia. The semi-final victory against Australia proved India’s strength, with Kohli once again playing a match-winning knock.
With India reaching the final, fans are eagerly waiting to see if the team can bring home another ICC trophy. Meanwhile, the tournament has sparked debates about captaincy, team management, and the future of international cricket leadership.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be remembered not only for India’s dominant performance but also for the major shake-ups in team captaincies, proving that the pressure of global tournaments can make or break a leader.
