The 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9 across three venues in Pakistan (Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi) and one in Dubai.
However, ahead of the prestigious eight-team tournament, the event has lost some of its shine due to injury concerns plaguing several top players worldwide.
More than half a dozen key players have already been ruled out, dampening the excitement of the tournament’s return after eight years.
Here’s a look at the top players who will miss the Champions Trophy 2025:
Jasprit Bumrah (India): Star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 on February 12 due to a lower back injury.
The BCCI confirmed the development on X, noting that Bumrah last played a 50-over match for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final.
Pat Cummins (Australia): Australia’s ODI and Test captain, Pat Cummins, will also be absent from the Champions Trophy. The 2023 ODI World Cup-winning captain was announced as Australia’s skipper for the ICC event on January 12.
However, on February 6, Cricket Australia confirmed that Cummins would miss the tournament due to an injury sustained after the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Josh Hazlewood (Australia): Experienced Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will not participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old pacer, who has claimed 138 wickets in 91 ODIs, suffered a hip injury during the third India-Australia Test in Brisbane last year, ruling him out of the tournament.
Mitchell Marsh (Australia): Australia’s T20I captain and star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 on January 31 due to a back injury. Cricket Australia stated that Marsh is unlikely to play again this season.
“Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction," Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Mitchell Starc has opted out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to personal reasons, prompting Australia to make key adjustments to their 15-player squad led by Steve Smith.
The left-arm pacer, who has requested privacy regarding his decision, had shown signs of discomfort during the latter stages of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Marcus Stoinis (Australia): Experienced Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will not take part in the Champions Trophy 2025 after suddenly announcing his retirement from international cricket just weeks before the tournament. His unexpected departure further weakens the Australian squad, which is already dealing with multiple injury setbacks.
Anrich Nortje (South Africa): South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who last played a 50-over match for the Proteas on September 9, 2023, against Australia in Bloemfontein, was initially named in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
However, he was ruled out on January 15 due to a back injury. MI Cape Town all-rounder Corbin Bosch was announced as his replacement on February 9.
Gerald Coetzee (South Africa): South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has also been ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025. The 23-year-old, known for his pace and aggressive bowling, suffered a groin injury during a domestic match in January, forcing him to miss the tournament.
Jacob Bethell (England): England’s 21-year-old batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell will miss the Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury.
He sustained the injury while playing in the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against India at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on February 6.
Saim Ayub (Pakistan): Young Pakistani opening batter Saim Ayub was not included in the Men in Green’s 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury.
He suffered the injury while playing in the second Test of the away series against South Africa in Cape Town last month.
Allah Ghazanfar (Afghanistan): 18-year-old Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar, who has 21 wickets in 11 ODIs, was ruled out of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis.
He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s recent tour of Zimbabwe and will be sidelined for at least four months.
With these key players missing, the tournament landscape has undoubtedly shifted, presenting opportunities for new stars to emerge on the global stage. However, fans and teams alike will feel the absence of these top-tier cricketers.
Australia has suffered the most setbacks, with five of their star players ruled out of the tournament, significantly impacting their squad depth and performance prospects.
