Five Bowlers Who Can Make A Big Impact In 2025 Champions Trophy

They say batters win matches but bowlers win series and tournaments! It is the biggest cricketing event of the year and the best eight teams in ODI cricket in the world will compete with one another at the 2025 Champions Trophy which gets underway at Karachi from the 19th of February. While all the attention will be on the batters, it will be the teams with the more effective bowling units that may come out triumphant in the tournament. We look at five bowlers who are likely to make a big impact at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

1. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi is the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket since 2023 and has bagged 62 wickets in just 29 matches at an average of 22.7 and strike rate of 24.3. Shaheen has a brilliant record against right-handers and left-handers, averaging just over 23 (vs both). He is a master-restrictor in the powerplay with an economy of just 5 and a wicket-taker in the death overs. Shaheen has picked 49 wickets in the last 10 overs at an average of 15.4 and strike rate of 12.5! The in-swinger is his stock delivery and has fetched him 42 wickets at a splendid average of 20.6 and economy of 4.8! Shaheen will be a big threat in home conditions where he has bagged 31 wickets in just 16 matches. He also has a fine record in the UAE with 13 wickets from six encounters.

2. Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav will be the X-factor for India with the ball. He is their leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket (and the fourth-highest overall) since 2023 with 55 dismissals in 34 innings at an average of 21.76, strike rate of 28.9 and economy of 4.51! Kuldeep has an excellent record in the middle overs but even more commendable is his bowling in the death overs - the Chinaman has returned with 29 wickets in