The International Cricket Council (ICC) hosts a prestigious cricket tournament every two to four years, known as the ICC Champions Trophy. It is a 50-over ODI tournament, featuring the top-ranked teams competing for glory. There were discussions about discontinuing the ICC Champions Trophy after the 2013 and 2017 editions, and the tournament was notably not held in 2021. However, it was later revived and is scheduled to return in 2025.
The ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for February and March 2025, will be hosted in Pakistan, with additional matches to be played at a neutral venue such as the UAE. Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Here’s a list of three teams with the most titles in ICC Champions Trophy history:
1. India (2 titles)
India claimed its first ICC Champions Trophy title in 2002, although it was shared with Sri Lanka. The final, held at Colombo, was washed out due to rain on both the scheduled day and the reserve day. Both teams were declared joint winners, making this a unique occurrence in ICC tournament history.
India won its second title outright in 2013 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Held in England, the team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. India defeated England in a thrilling rain-affected final at Edgbaston.
2. Australia (2 titles)
Australia claimed their first Champions Trophy title in India in 2006 under the leadership of Ricky Ponting; the team dominated the tournament. They defeated the West Indies in the final in Mumbai, with Shane Watson delivering a match-winning all-round performance.
Australia successfully defended their title in the 2009 edition, held in South Africa. The final saw them defeat New Zealand comprehensively at Centurion. The victory marked Australia’s growing supremacy in limited-overs cricket.
3. South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Pakistan (1 title)
South Africa clinched the first-ever ICC Champions Trophy title in 1998. They defeated the West Indies in the final. New Zealand won the next edition in 2000, after defeating India in a thrilling final. The 2002 Champions Trophy title was shared between India and Sri Lanka as the final was washed out due to rain on both the scheduled day and the reserve day. The West Indies won the Champions Trophy title in 2004, and Pakistan won the tournament in 2013.
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