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Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team

8 teams are participating in the Champions Trophy 2025, which are divided into 2 groups. India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed in Group A. Whereas Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan have been kept in Group B.

Feb 12, 2025, 12:17 PM4 min read

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team | Sportz Point

Teams of 7 countries have announced their squads for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. ICC had demanded squads from all the teams by January 12 only.

India has recently announced their squad in which Rohit Sharma will command the team and Shubman Gill will do the vice captaincy.

Also Read: ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

Champion Trophy 2025: Groups

A total of 8 teams are participating in the Champions Trophy 2025. The teams are divided into 2 groups.

India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed in Group A. Whereas Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan have been kept in Group B.

Group A

  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan

Group B

  • Afghanistan
  • England
  • Australia
  • South Africa

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads

Group A

India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 India squad

Bangladesh:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - Bangladesh | sportzpoint.com

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana

New Zealand:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - New Zealand | Sportz Point

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Pakistan:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - Sportzpoint.com

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Group B

Afghanistan:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran

Reserves:

Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami

England:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - England | Sportz Point

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

Australia:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - Australia | Sportz Point

Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

South Africa:

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team - Sportzpoint.com

Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

Read Also |  ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

Champion Trophy 2025: Schedule 

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy kicks off on February 19, with host Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi.

Date Match Group/Stage Time (Local) Venue
February 19, Wed Pakistan vs New Zealand Group A 2:30 pm National Stadium, Karachi
February 20, Thu India vs Bangladesh Group A 2:30 pm Dubai International Stadium
February 21, Fri Afghanistan vs South Africa Group B 2:30 pm National Stadium, Karachi
February 22, Sat Australia vs England Group B 2:30 pm Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
February 23, Sun India vs Pakistan Group A 2:30 pm Dubai International Stadium
February 24, Mon Bangladesh vs New Zealand Group A 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
February 25, Tue Australia vs South Africa Group B 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
February 26, Wed Afghanistan vs England Group B 2:30 pm Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
February 27, Thu Pakistan vs Bangladesh Group A 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
February 28, Fri Australia vs Afghanistan Group B 2:30 pm Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
March 1, Sat England vs South Africa Group B 2:30 pm National Stadium, Karachi
March 2, Sun India vs New Zealand Group A 2:30 pm Dubai International Stadium
March 4, Tue Semi-final 1 Knockout 2:30 pm Dubai International Stadium
March 5, Wed Semi-final 2 Knockout 2:30 pm Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
March 9, Sun Final Final 2:30 pm Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore/Dubai Int. Stadium

 

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Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats.

Jun 23, 2025, 10:25 AM4 min read

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

The comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is one of the most discussed topics in the cricketing world. Although Virat made his debut much earlier in 2008, while Babar played his first international match in 2015, the debate about these two batting superstars across various formats continues to thrive. 

Both Kohli and Babar were U-19 stars. Kohli won the ODI World Cup in 2011, Champions Trophy in 2013 and T20 World Cup in 2024 with India, while Babar’s only international triumph is the Champions Trophy in 2017.

Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats. 

Also Read: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC ODI Events

ICC ODI World Cup

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

Kohli has played 37 ODI World Cup matches across four editions, scoring 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83 and a strike rate of 88.20, with five hundreds and 12 half-centuries. The former India captain has been dismissed without scoring only once in the ICC event. His best of 117 came off 113 balls against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Virat Kohli in ODI WCs Innings Runs Not outs Average SR HS 100s 50s 0s
2011 9 282 1 35.25 82.21 100* 1 1 0
2015 8 305 2 50.83 81.55 107 1 0 0
2019 9 443 1 55.37 94.05 82 0 5 0
2023 11 765 3 95.62 90.31 117 3 6 1
Total 37 1,795 7 59.83 88.20 117 5 12 1

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

Looking at Babar's record in the ODI World Cup, he has played 17 matches and has scored 794 runs at an average of 52.93 and a strike rate of 85.74, with one hundred and seven fifties. He is yet to be dismissed for a duck in a World Cup match. Babar's only ton in the ODI World Cup came against New Zealand in Birmingham in 2019, when scored 101* off 127 balls.

Babar Azam in ODI WCs Innings Runs Not outs Average SR HS 100s 50s 0s
2019 8 474 1 67.71 87.77 101* 1 3 0
2023 9 320 1 40 82.90 74 0 4 0
Total 17 794 2 52.93 85.74 101* 1 7 0

ICC Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

Looking at his stats in the Champions Trophy, Kohli has played 17 innings and has scored 747 runs at an average of 74.07 and a strike rate of 89.04, with six half-centuries and one century to his name. He has been dismissed without scoring on one occasion.

Babar has featured two Champions Trophies. In seven matches so far, he has scored 220 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 74.08, with just one fifty. In the 2017 edition that Pakistan won, Babar contributed 133 runs in five innings (two not outs) at an average of 44.33 and a strike rate of 74.71. Again, Kohli has a better average and strike rate than Babar in the Champions Trophy.

Player Innings in CT Runs Average SR HS 100s 50s
Virat Kohli 17 747 74.7 89.4 100 1 6
Babar Azam 7 220 44.0 74.8 64 0 1

Also Read: Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC T20I Events

ICC T20 World Cup

Virat is the all times highest run scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup. In 33 matches, Virat has scored 1292 runs at a strike rate 128.8 of and an average of 58.7. Kohli has also scored 15 half-centuries with a top score of 89 not out to his name.

Babar, on the other hand, has played only 3 editions of the T20 World Cup. In 2021, he was the top run-scorer after he made 303 runs from 6 games at an average of 60.60. In 17 T20 World Cup matches, Babar has scored 549 runs at an average of 36.6.

Player Innings in T20WC Runs Average SR HS 100s 50s
Virat Kohli 33 1,292 58.7 128.8 89 0 15
Babar Azam 17 549 36.6 111.4 70 0 5

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ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025)

Who won the ICC trophies each year? Discover the complete list of ICC trophy winners list year-wise from 2000 to 2025 across all major cricket tournaments.

Jun 20, 2025, 1:40 PM5 min read

ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com

Cricket's biggest tournaments bring together the best teams from around the world. From the fast-paced T20 format to the longest format of the game, each trophy is a huge achievement in international cricket.

Our list will provide you with the statistical breakdown of every ICC tournament, highlighting the teams that have dominated the cricket world across men's and women's competition, as well as the Under-19 category.

Check out the ICC trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025):

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (ODI)

Australia won most numbers of ODI World Cup titles in the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
Australia celebrating their 2023 ICC World Cup win. Image | Mint

Australia dominated the ICC ODI World Cup with 4 titles in 6 seasons from 2000-2025. They are the current champion side that defeated the host nation, India, on their home soil in the 2023 finals.

Here's the complete list of trophy winners:

Year Winner Runners-up Host
2003 Australia India SA, ZW, KE
2007 Australia Sri Lanka WI
2011 India Sri Lanka IND, SL, BAN
2015 Australia New Zealand AUS, NZ
2019 England New Zealand ENG
2023 Australia India IND

Read Also: Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

India won the 2024 T20 World Cup and holds a place in the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
India lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup title. Image | Mint

India holds the current title of the ICC T20 World Cup. They, along with England and the West Indies, won the title 2 times from 2000 to 2025. India defeated South Africa in a thrilling final match to reign as champions in 2024.

Here's the complete list of trophy winners (2000-2025):

Year Winner Runners-up Host
2007 India Pakistan SA
2009 Pakistan Sri Lanka ENG
2010 England Australia WI
2012 West Indies Sri Lanka SL
2014 Sri Lanka India BAN
2016 West Indies England IND
2021 Australia New Zealand UAE
2022 England Pakistan AUS
2024 India South Africa WI, USA

ICC Champions Trophy (ODI)

India won the 2025 Champions Trophy and holds a place in the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
India celebrates their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy victory. Image | Mint

Another ICC tournament where India has done exceptionally well with the most number of titles (3) from 2000 to 2025. They are also the current champions of the 2025 season, where they dominated the entirety of it, and eventually lifted the cup after a phenomenal victory over New Zealand.

Here's the list of trophy winners:

Year Winner Runners-up Host
2000 New Zealand India KE
2002 India & Sri Lanka (Joint winners- final rained out) - SL
2004 West Indies  England ENG
2006 Australia West Indies IND
2009 Australia New Zealand SA
2013 India  England ENG, Wales
2017 Pakistan India ENG, Wales
2025 India New Zealand  PAK

ICC World Test Championship

South Africa won the 2025 WTC Final and made their way to the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
South Africa celebrates their WTC 2023-25 win. Image | Mint

Inaugurated in 2019, the ICC World Test Championship was designed to award the supremacy of cricket's longest format. South Africa made history by winning the 2023-25 WTC cycle and breaking their ICC trophy drought.

Here's the list of trophy winners:

Season Winner Runners-up
2019-2021 New Zealand India
2021-2023 Australia India
2023-2025 South Africa Australia

Read Also: Best figures in ICC WTC Final

ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup (ODI)

India won the 2018 U-19 World Cup and holds a place in the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
India lifts the 2018 U-19 World Cup. Image | ESPNcricinfo

India won the most titles in Under-19 World Cup history with 5 titles to their name. The Australian side is the current champion, who won the 2024 edition, clinching their 4th title of this tournament.

Year Winner Runners-up
2000 India Sri Lanka
2002 Australia South Africa
2004 Pakistan West Indies
2006 Pakistan India
2008 India South Africa
2010 Australia Pakistan
2012 India Australia
2014 South Africa Pakistan
2016 West Indies India
2018 India Australia
2020 Bangladesh India
2022 India England
2024 Australia India

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup (ODI)

Australia Women's team won the 2022 CWC and made their way to the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
Australia celebrating their 2022 Cricket World Cup victory. Image | The Bridge

Australia are the most successful team with 7 titles overall, and 3 titles in the span of 2000 to 2025. Led by legendary players like Margaret Jennings, Sharon Tredrea, Lyn Larsen, and Meg Lanning, the Australian side has been unparalleled.

Here's the list of trophy winners:

Year Winner Runners-up Host
2000 New Zealand Australia NZ
2005 Australia India SA
2009 England New Zealand AUS
2013 Australia West Indies IND
2017 England India ENG
2022 Australia England NZ

Read Also: Pratika Rawal becomes the fastest to reach 500 ODI runs in women's cricket.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup

New Zealand won Women's T20 cricket World Cup in 2024 and made their way to ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
New Zealand celebrates their first T20 World Cup win in 2024. Image | ESPNcricinfo

ICC Women's T20 World Cup is a relatively new tournament, with the first edition being held in 2019. Out of the 9 seasons played so far, Australia stood victorious in 6 of them. However, New Zealand broke their winning streak by emerging as champions of the 2024 season

Year Winner Runners-up Host
2009 England New Zealand ENG
2010 Australia New Zealand WI
2012 Australia England SL
2014 Australia England BAN
2016 West Indies Australia IND
2018 Australia England WI
2020 Australia India AUS
2023 Australia South Africa SA
2024 New Zealand South Africa UAE

Read Also: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

ICC UNDER-19 WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP

India won the Under-19 World Cup 2025 and made their place in the ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025) | sportzpoint.com
India squad celebrating their 2025 U-19 T20 World Cup win. Image | Mint

ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup is the newest among all the tournaments held by the International Cricket Council, inaugurated in 2023. India has won both the 2023 and 2025 seasons and has purely dominated the WC.

Year Winners Runners-up Host
2023 India England South Africa
2025 India South Africa Malaysia

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Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

Indian won seven ICC trophies over the years. A few players have been part of several of these victorious campaigns. let's take a look at the Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles.

Jun 20, 2025, 11:38 AM4 min read

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is cricket’s global governing body, overseeing various prestigious tournaments. These include the ICC Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and the World Test Championship. The ICC tournaments are considered the most prestigious in cricket, and players strive to lift the trophies.

India have always had the services of the best players. And thanks to them, India have been a consistent force in world cricket. The same consistency is visible in the ICC tournaments. This has helped the Indian team win seven ICC trophies over the years. A few players have been part of several of these victorious campaigns.

Also Read: Most Centuries in World Cup History

So, let's take a look at the Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles.

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

6. Harbhajan Singh | 3 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
  • 2007 T20 World Cup
  • 2011 Cricket World Cup

Having started his career in 1998, Harbhajan Singh is one of the few Indian cricketers to have won all three ICC white-ball titles. 

He was part of India's 2002 ICC Champions Trophy title-winning campaign, where they were joint winners with Sri Lanka. Five years later, he played a key role in India's triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, in 2007. He was also a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad.

5. Yuvraj Singh | 3 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
  • 2007 T20 World Cup
  • 2011 Cricket World Cup

One of India's greatest all-rounders, Yuvraj Singh has also won all three ICC white-ball tournaments. He was part of the teams that won the 2002 Champions Trophy, 2007 T20 World Cup, and 2011 ODI World Cup.

In the 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj was the Player of the Tournament for his stellar all-round performance. He made history in the 2007 T20I World Cup by hitting six sixes in an over against England.

4. Ravindra Jadeja | 3 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2013 Champions Trophy
  • 2024 T20 World Cup
  • 2025 Champions Trophy

After India lifted the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, Ravindra Jadeja went level with Dhoni. The star all-rounder now has three ICC trophies.

Before the latest win, Jadeja was part of another Champions Trophy victory in 2013. He picked up the most wickets in that tournament to win the Golden Ball. Fast forward to 11 years, and Jadeja found himself in the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad. After this, he retired from T20I cricket.

3. MS Dhoni | 3 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2007 T20 World Cup
  • 2011 Cricket World Cup
  • 2013 Champions Trophy

MS Dhoni was the first Indian player to win three ICC trophies. Interestingly, he won all three of them as skipper. Under Dhoni’s leadership, India had a successful run in limited-overs. And he showed a glimpse of his tactical acumen early in his captaincy stint.

Captain Cool guided a young team to the inaugural T20 World Cup victory in 2007. Then he followed it with the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011. And Dhoni completed the ICC ODI tournament trophy with the Champions Trophy win in 2013.

2. Rohit Sharma | 4 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2007 T20 World Cup
  • 2013 Champions Trophy
  • 2024 T20 World Cup
  • 2025 Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma is level with Kohli when it comes to ICC trophy victories. The current Indian captain has won two of the four titles while leading the Indian team. Before that, he was part of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. 

Then, alongside Kohli, he took India to the Champions Trophy victory in 2013. Rohit repeated the feat in 2024 and 2025, but this time as a captain. He guided the Men in Blue to the T20 World Cup win in 2024, followed by the Champions Trophy triumph in 2025.

Also Read: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

1. Virat Kohli | 4 Titles

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

  • 2011 Cricket World Cup
  • 2013 Champions Trophy
  • 2024 T20 World Cup
  • 2025 Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli has been a proven match-winner for India. And the same is true when it comes to ICC events. The top-order batter hardly fails to perform in these high-stakes tournaments. He has powered the team to many wins, including four ICC title victories.

Kohli managed to land his hands on an ICC trophy for the first time in 2011. He was part of the 2011 World Cup squad that defeated Sri Lanka in the final at home. Two years later, he was on the podium yet again as India won the Champions Trophy in England. But then Kohli had to endure a decade’s wait to add the third title. He helped India win the T20 World Cup in 2024 before clinching his fourth silverware in 2025 as India landed the Champions Trophy.

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Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

Let’s look at the statistics of Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010.

Jun 19, 2025, 1:02 PM3 min read

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

Playing test matches is one thing but to win test matches is a whole other ball game as only the best teams are able to win and get better as a test match side. During the 140+ years of test cricket there have been around 2500+ test matches that have been played by the various teams playing and these teams strive to beat the other team in this match and win the series as a result. Winning a test match is the ultimate satisfaction for a team even now. So, let’s look at the statistics of Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010.

Also Read: Most Sixes in International Cricket History | Top 25 Batters

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

5. New Zealand | 52

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

The number 5 team in this list is the New Zealand team which has won 52 test matches since 2010 out of a total of 122 test matches played till now. They have lost 46 matches which is not a good record to have and hopefully the win loss difference decreases and they have a total of drawn test matches of 24 and going forward it can be said that their record will improve.

4. South Africa | 66

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

South Africa have one of the most impressive records in the test cricket as in the 127 test matches they have played in from 2010-2025 , they have been able to win 66 test matches and they have lost 39 matches against good teams as well and they also have drawn 22 test matches. South Africa was barred from cricket as well for a number of years and they were reinstated in 1993 again and their journey hasn’t looked back since.

3. India | 80

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

After Australia, the third team with most test match wins is the Indian team with 80 test match wins since 2010 in a total of 156 matches. They have also lost 48 matches which is not a good sign as well as they have 28 drawn matches throughout their journey from 2010 and the hope is this record gets better with time and they win more matches than they lose.

2. Australia | 84

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

Australia have played a total of 157 test matches since 2010 and they have won 84 matches and also lost 48 matches as a side and some of the losses were memorable. And Australia have drawn 25 matches and drawn test matches can be very entertaining as well. Australia will play more test matches as they go along over the years and they will reach 100 test wins really soon as well.

Also Read: Most ICC Trophies by any men's team

1. England | 90

Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

England is the test team with the most number of wins in test matches since 2010. They are the only team who have played over a 190 test matches and they have won 90 matches whereas they have also lost 70 test matches as well which shows they are beaten a lot of times as well and the number of drawn test matches by England are at 31 and as they play along they will win more rest matches as well as lose matches as well.

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'I feel there’s work that needs to be done': AB de Villiers proposes for changes in WTC format to make it fair for all teams

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers wants changes in the WTC format to make it fair for all teams.

Jun 18, 2025, 10:52 AM3 min read

'I feel there’s work that needs to be done': AB de Villiers proposes for changes in WTC format to make it fair for all teams

Recently the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle ended. The final match of which was won by South Africa. South Africa was successful in winning its first ICC trophy after 27 years after defeating Australia. But amidst all this, former South African captain AB de Villiers has raised questions on the WTC format and has demanded several reforms from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Also Read: Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments (men's)

De Villiers raised questions on the WTC format

AB de Villiers has strongly advocated making the World Test Championship schedule more fair and consistent for all Test playing nations. De Villiers, 41, has suggested a four-year cycle like the ODI World Cup, instead of the current two-year cycle, to ensure every team can compete against other Test-playing sides.

Speaking to BBC Sport, AB de Villiers expressed his disappointment. He said, “We’ve had some very disappointing and sad ends to a lot of campaigns, especially the World Cups, but now it’s time to start believing that we can do this more often,” 

“[This moment] won’t be lost. It was too big and too special for all South Africans – it was a Test match no one will ever forget. But yes, to a certain extent, something needs to be done.”

De Villiers advocates making WTC a balanced system

AB de Villiers further elaborated during this interaction, “I saw the schedule that came out for the next cycle of the WTC and there is an improvement, but I still feel there’s work that needs to be done there to just to get it as consistent as possible and as fair as possible for all for all Test-playing nations.”

“You want to get to that final feeling like you’ve played against all these nations,” De Villiers added. “Maybe a four-year cycle would be nice. We’ve done that in the past with one-day internationals, so why not in Test cricket? It would make sense and it would give the organisers just so much more time to get a really fair, well-balanced system out there.”

De Villiers believes a longer cycle will allow teams to play a sufficient number of matches, making a team's journey to the final more credible.

Also Read: Best figures in ICC WTC Final

South Africa played least number of Test matches in WTC 2023-25

De Villiers' comments come at a time when the Proteas have played the least number of Test matches (12) among the nine teams during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. The number was a full 10 matches less than England's 22, while Australia, who face South Africa, played 19 matches during the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

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