No Virat Kohli Or Shikhar Dhawan! AI Picks All-Time Best Champions Trophy XI

The ICC Men's Champions Trophy will return in 2025 after an eight-year gap. The tournament will take place from February 19 to March 9 across Pakistan and the UAE. This will be Pakistan's first time hosting a global ICC event since 1996.

The competition will feature eight teams divided into two groups. Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan, while Group B includes Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. The tournament will have 15 matches, with every game playing a crucial role in determining the winner.

Matches will be hosted in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, while Dubai will serve as the neutral venue in the UAE.

The tournament will begin with Pakistan facing New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. The next day, India will take on Bangladesh in Dubai. Afghanistan will meet South Africa on February 21 in Karachi. The highly anticipated Australia vs. England clash will take place on February 22 in Lahore. On February 23, India and Pakistan will meet in Dubai in one of the most-awaited matches of the tournament.

The semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 in Dubai and March 5 in Lahore. The final will take place on March 9 in Lahore, but if India qualifies, it will be moved to Dubai. All knockout matches, including the final, will have reserve days in case of any interruptions.

Here's a look at the Best XI picked by AI ahead of the 9th edition. The likes of Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan have failed to make the cut in the list.

All-Time Best Champions Trophy XI

1) Chris Gayle (West Indies) - Most runs in Champions Trophy history, explosive opener. Winner in 2004.
2) Sachin Tendulkar (India) - Consistent performer, led India's top order in early editions. Joint-winner in 2002.
3) Ricky Ponting (Australia) (C) - Two-time Champions Trophy-winning captain, dominant middle-order batsman.
4) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) (WK) - Reliable wicketkeeper-batsman, key in Sri Lanka's success. Joint-winner in 2002.
5) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) - Elite all-rounder, contributed heavily with both bat and ball. Winner in 1998.
6) Yuvraj Singh (India) - Big-match player, impactful with bat and left-arm spin. Joint-Winner in 2002.
7) Shane Watson (Australia) - Player of the tournament in 2009, explosive opener and handy pacer. Winner in 2006, 2009.
8) Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) - Economical left-arm spinner, crucial in New Zealand's 2000 triumph.
9) Wasim Akram (Pakistan) - Lethal left-arm pacer, played key roles in Pakistan's campaigns.
10) Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - Leading wicket-taker in the tournament's history, world-class spinner. Joint-Winner in 2002.
11) Glenn McGrath (Australia) - Accurate and dominant, key to Australia's title wins.