Kohli, Babar And Other Stars Who Might FLOP In Champions Trophy

Unlike previous ICC tournaments, this time around, there aren’t too many clear-cut favourites heading into the Champions Trophy owing to the form of several top international stars. 

The Champions Trophy 2025 will likely be a batter-dominated competition, particularly with a plethora of key bowlers injured, but still there are multiple big names who will enter the mega event with a big question mark with respect to their form. 

We are used to big names dominating ICC events, but, this time around, we could see some reputed players end up flopping big time.

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

6010 ODI runs at 55.73; Babar Azam is an ODI behemoth, isn’t it?

He might have been, but in his current form, there’s a good chance that Babar could come out of the tournament with more trolls. Babar has just scored two ODI centuries in the last two years, one of which is against Nepal.

Across his last eight international innings, Babar has just one half-century (81 vs SA). Even in his last three ODI outings, Babar’s scores of 10, 23 and 29 is concerning.

Joe Root (England)

Joe Root’s Test form is exemplary but when it comes to ODIs, he’s not quite the same Joe. The former England Test skipper has quite a concerning bit of form behind him. Across his last 10 ODI innings, Root just has two half-centuries, 69 against India in Cuttack and 60 against Pakistan in Eden Gardens.

You’d have to go all the way back to 2019 to see Root’s last ODI century, which shows that even the greatest of cricketers can have a rough run. But Root’s rough patch could very well continue even on the flattest of wickets in Pakistan. 

Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli’s best format to date remains ODIs, where he has helped India ‘chase’ several totals. But somehow, that Midas touch might just seem to be waning away, as evidenced by the recent form in the 50-over format.

Since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, Kohli has scored 24, 14, 20, 5, and 52. While he did look solid in his 52 in Ahmedabad, there were still occasions in the same clash when Kohli could have walked away with a single-digit score. With conditions in Dubai being seam-friendly, Kohli might have early trouble. 

Jos Buttler (England)

Root is not the only English batter to have suffered the ODI wrath in the recent past. Jos Buttler’s ODI format is a BIG CONCERN for the Three Lions.

Since March 1, 2023, Buttler hasn’t scored a single ODI century, and what’s worse is that he only averages 27.52 with the bat and has only amassed 578 runs. In an English outfit where a lot of batters are struggling for form, Buttler will need to step up. 

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)

Might not be on the same pedestal as the other names on the list, Marnus Labuschagne’s form is certainly on the same pedestal. Australia’s ODI quick-fix, Labuschagne is having a rough patch of form in the 50-over format.

Across his last 11 innings, Labuschagne has only managed to cross the 50-run mark twice, one of which came in the run-chase against England, where he scored 77 off 61. The Australian No.5 batter looked totally clueless in all of his last five ODI innings.