No IND vs PAK final;  Kiwi star Rachin Ravindra predicts ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finalists; leaves out last edition's finalists

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to start on February 19, with the best 8 teams in the world competing to become the champions. Pakistan hold the trophy, and they are the official host of the tournament. The initial stage will see two groups with four teams each, and the top two ranked teams from both groups will qualify for the semis.

India and Pakistan are placed in Group A along with New Zealand and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Australia and England are in Group B with South Africa and Afghanistan. This edition is taking place after a wait of over 7 years, which is why the excitement for the coming event has peaked.

These are the 8 best teams in the world, which will set the standard of competition very high. All teams have the capabilities to win the tournament, which makes it hard to predict the winner. However, young Kiwi star Rachin Ravindra, who will feature in the competition for New Zealand, has made a bold prediction for the finalists of the competition.

Rachin Ravindra leaves out India and Pakistan as he makes predictions for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finalists

Rachin Ravindra was the find of the 2023 ODI World Cup for New Zealand when he topped the run-scoring chart for his team. He showed great applications of playing long and impactful innings in the subcontinent. Since then, he has become a permanent member of the New Zealand team across all three formats. His form will be a key for the Black Caps in the coming event.

New Zealand will start their campaign with a game against Pakistan in the tournament's opener on February 19 at National Stadium in Karachi. Meanwhile, in a recent conversation on the ICC, Rachin revealed his excitement to represent New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. When asked about the probably finalists, he picked New Zealand and Australia.

Rachin said, "It’s always very hard to predict (finalists) that because you always want to say New Zealand because you’re involved. So hopefully we’re there. It’s pretty hard to count out people like Australia. They’ve shown how strong they are in all formats. Current holders of the ODI World Cup too. So hopefully it’ll be a Trans-Tasman derby."

Notably, India are the No. 1 ranked ODI team and played in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017, while Pakistan are the current champion. These two teams will have an edge of conditions. 

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