ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan and Ravindra Jadeja are among the top five spinners to watch out for in upcoming Champions Trophy.
The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is less than two weeks away. Spinners are expected to play a crucial role in the tournament, which will be held in Pakistan and at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The subcontinent surfaces are traditionally spin-friendly, and each team has selected their best spinners for the competition.
India will play all of their matches in Dubai as long as they remain in the tournament. February is considered the wettest month in the city, which means dew could form at the venue, making it more challenging for spinners to maintain full control over their bowling. On the other hand, Pakistan have been producing batting-friendly surfaces in ODIs, posing an additional challenge for bowlers.
Let’s take a look at the top five spinners to watch out for in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Adam Zampa (Australia)
Australia’s veteran spinner, Adam Zampa, has always contributed with the ball in the middle overs. Thanks to their premier pace attack, he always does the job of holding the runs in the middle overs.
Since the start of 2020, he has picked up 86 ODI wickets in 58 innings during the middle overs (11-40). His average of 25.7 and economy rate of 5.20 reveal how he doesn’t allow the batters to free their arms. In the same period, he has bagged 28 ODI scalps in 38 innings during the last ten overs (41-50). The leg spinner’s economy of 6.30 is a little expensive.
The 32-year-old can be the trump card with his experience in the injury-hit Australia side. Overall, the Victoria spinner has pocketed 180 ODI scalps in 106 innings at an average of 28.28.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
There is hardly any bowler better than Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan in carrying the same effectiveness with the ball in all phases. In 104 ODI innings, he has collected 198 scalps at an average of below 20 and a strike rate of 28.3. His 4.20 economy always keeps Afghanistan ahead in the middle overs.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain, usually saves his trump card for the middle overs. Since the start of 2020, Rashid Khan has picked up 50 wickets in 37 ODI innings in the middle overs. His average of 22.9 and economy of 4.10 prove that he doesn’t go for many runs in this period.
Even in the last 10 overs, he has delivered with 15 wickets at an economy rate of just below five. His average of 20.5 and the strike rate of 24.9 make it easier for other bowlers to focus on their end.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Ravindra Jadeja’s experience will be incredibly vital for India in the middle overs with the ball. The left-arm spinner has picked up 36 ODI wickets in 35 innings since the start of 2020 during the middle overs. His average of 36.5 and economy of less than five have been beneficial to the team.
Even though he just has five wickets in the last 10 overs in the same period, his economy of 4.51 is superb. This comes at an average of just 17 and a strike rate of 22.6. India will play all of their games in Dubai, where he has gone through an excellent time. In four innings at the venue, the Saurashtra spinner has collected seven wickets at an average of 22.29 and a strike rate of 30.
Overall, the 37-year-old has celebrated 223 ODI wickets in 198 games at an average of 35.7. His contribution with the bat will also be vital for the blue brigade. Read More: Strongest contenders for title glory in Champions Trophy 2025
Kuldeep Yadav (India)
One of the top-quality spinners to watch out for in this competition will be India’s Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist spinner has picked up 173 wickets in 104 ODI innings at an average of 26.15 and a strike rate of 31.3. His economy of five helps the Rohit Shamra-led side control the game in the middle overs.
Since the start of 2020, Kuldeep has taken 62 wickets in the middle overs at an average of 30.1. His strike rate of 36.5 is also valuable for the 2002 joint-winners of the tournament. Even in the death overs, the 30-year-old has picked up 12 ODI scalps at an average of just 16.
The veteran has also enjoyed his time with the ball in Dubai. In six innings at this venue, he has got 10 wickets at an average of below 24 and a strike rate of 34.80. He will hope to carry the same form in the upcoming tournament.
Adil Rashid (England)
England’s veteran spinner, Adil Rashid, doesn’t bowl a lot with the new ball in the first ten overs. His record of one powerplay wicket in the last five years at an economy of seven proves it. But once the ball gets a bit old and the field opens up, Adil finds it easier to attack the batters.
Since January 2020, in 45 innings during the middle overs, the leg spinner has celebrated 50 ODI scalps. His average of 36.80 and a strike rate of 41 have been valuable for the Jos Buttler-led side.
The 37-year-old also finds it hard in the death overs, with an economy of nearly seven in the last 27 innings. Since the start of 2020, the spinner has claimed 64 wickets in 45 ODI innings at an average of nearly 35 and a strike rate of 37.2.
Overall, the Yorkshire-born has pocketed 207 ODI scalps in 138 innings at an average of 32.71 and a strike rate of 34.95. Read More: India's bowling resources in ODIs, beyond Bumrah & Shami
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