ICC Champions Trophy Betting Tips
The ICC Champions Trophy gets underway on Wednesday with the world’s best eight international teams in the 50-over format fighting it out for the prestigious global title.
Pakistan, as hosts and holders, will be among those with realistic chances of going all the way but they will have to travel to Dubai to face favourites India in the group stage and again if the cross-border rivals clash in the final.
Tip1 – India to win the ICC Champions Trophy @ 7/5
India enter the tournament as firm favourites, having just thrashed England 3-0 in a bilateral home series and bolstered the tournament’s logistical alignment with their interests.
After refusing to travel to Pakistan, India has ensured all their matches, including the final if they qualify, will be played in Dubai. This unique advantage allows them to tailor their squad specifically for conditions at a single venue.
Fresh off ending their global trophy drought with a T20 World Cup win last year, the world’s top-ranked ODI side looks primed for success.
Four of their batters are ranked in the world’s top-10 and three of their bowlers are currently among the top dozen in white-ball cricket.
Their ability and intensity in the field has also been at a very high level of late and this quality should ensure that they get over the line and win the trophy.
The remaining three teams in Group A - Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh - are effectively vying for one semi-final spot unless India falters.
Pakistan will benefit from home-ground familiarity but also face immense pressure. Their unpredictability makes them a risky bet at 41/50 to reach the semi-finals.
New Zealand consistently punch above their weight in global tournaments and could pose a serious threat, while Bangladesh’s spin attack could thrive in subcontinental conditions.
But the Black Caps have lost their last five ODIs against India, while the Tigers have lost two of their last three 50–over battles against the Men in Blue by wide margins of seven wickets and 227 runs.
Tip 2 – Afghanistan Top 4 Finish @ 3/1
In Group B, Australia are the fancied heavyweights ahead of England, South Africa and Afghanistan.
The Aussies’ plans for the tournament have been disrupted by injuries and the absences of star bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, as well as all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.
They look short on top quality in the bowling department, while a recent 2-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka, who did not gain entry to the tournament, was hardly the preparation they wanted.
England, meanwhile, enter the tournament on shaky ground after a 3-0 series loss in India, raising doubts about their readiness.
Priced at 7/1 to win the trophy, they appear an unconvincing pick. Their recent struggles in white-ball cricket, coupled with inconsistent performances, make them a risky proposition.
However, Afghanistan’s prospects of going deep in the ICC Champions Trophy this year should not be ruled out.
They will be familiar with conditions in Pakistan, which suit their spin-heavy attack. Rashid Khan, a world-class leg-spinner, leads a potent bowling unit that thrives on dry, turning pitches.
The Atalans’ batting unit has also begun to fire recently, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz currently ranked higher than any Australian or English player in the format.
Afghanistan took some major scalps at the last World Cup, overcoming England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands on Indian soil so they appear primed to upset the odds again.
Tip 3 – Shubman Gill - Top Tournament Run scorer @ 13/2
There can be little doubt that Shubman Gill is the most in-form batter in ODI cricket at the moment.
The right-handed opener feasted on England’s attack in the recent series, making scores of 87, 50 and 112.
Gill has compiled an aggregate of 2,587 runs at an average just above 60 in his 50 international appearances in the format.
That average has been back on the rise recently after the 25-year-old suffered a dip in his performance levels in 2024 due to a bout of dengue fever which caused him to lose six kilos of weight.
He has struck three tons and seven half-centuries in his last 19 ODI innings and looks the standout candidate to score the most runs in the Champions Trophy.
View all our cricket betting markets here
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation