Murali Karthik Picks Bangladesh and India as Top Contenders for Champions Trophy Title

According to former Indian cricketer Murali Karthik, Bangladesh and India are among the top favorites to win the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He referred to Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, as a "dark horse" team, one capable of reaching the semifinals or even the final. In the last Champions Trophy, Bangladesh made it to the semifinals, and Karthik predicts that the final champion will either be Bangladesh or India.

Ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has made the team's intentions clear: they are determined to win the title. "If we can defeat India and Pakistan in the group stage, we will create an opportunity to reach the semifinals," said Shanto.

In the Champions Trophy prediction on the popular cricket website Cricbuzz, Karthik said of Bangladesh, "Dark horse Bangladesh," and described them as "a very dangerous team" that could surprise everyone during the tournament.

Looking back at the last Champions Trophy, Bangladesh has fond memories. In 2017, they made it to the semifinals in a tournament held in England. Under the captaincy of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh reached the semis after defeating New Zealand in the group stage.

This time, Karthik believes Bangladesh has the potential to win the title. He is confident that Bangladesh is a strong contender and can reach the semifinals or even the final. Kartik boldly stated, "Either India or Bangladesh could be the champions."